The Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission is pleased to present the Dementia State Plan 2020-2024: Building a Dementia-Capable Virginia.

The Commission has revised and updated the Dementia State Plan in collaboration with researchers and stakeholders, and through a series of public listening sessions held across the Commonwealth attended by individuals living with dementia, their families and caregivers, and service providers. Over 100 Virginians attended the public listening sessions held in partnership with the four chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association serving Virginia and with Mountain Empire Older Citizens in Big Stone Gap. The Commission also accepted comments from the public by telephone, mail and e-mail from March 19, 2019 through June 30, 2019.

An estimated 150,000 Virginians are now living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, and this number is forecast to rise to 190,000 by 2025. It is essential both to plan now for the increased demand for supports and services, and to embrace a public health approach to dementia in order to mitigate its future impact. The five goals of the Dementia State Plan offer a comprehensive vision of a dementia-capable Virginia:

1. Coordinate quality dementia services to ensure dementia-capability
2. Use dementia-related data to improve public health outcomes
3. Increase awareness and create dementia-specific training
4. Provide access to quality coordinated care in the most integrated setting
5. Expand resources for translational research and evidence-based practices.

To continue building a dementia-capable Virginia, the Commission has developed recommendations and strategies that will be overseen by focused workgroups based within the Commission to facilitate the realization of the five goals. The Commission will evaluate and track progress on the recommendations and looks forward to reporting accomplishments under the Plan in the future. Although achieving the vision contained in the Plan will likely require additional resources, progress toward the goals can also be made through innovation and collaboration with stakeholders across the Commonwealth. We welcome your thoughts and ideas. To share them with the Commission, please contact any of the Commission members or staff at the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services.

Sincerely,

/s/ Lory L. Phillippo, MPH, OTR/L, Chair
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission