Alzheimer’s Association Starts Program to Improve Care

HUDSON, Ohio – In an effort to improve dementia care across the health-care industry, the Alzheimer’s Association has launched a new initiative that will engage more than 300 health systems across the country.

In Ohio, the program will be led by Amy Boehm, who will work with care providers in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia to leverage the Alzheimer’s Association’s resources and training.

“Our work with Ohio health systems and clinicians is two-fold,” said Cheryl Kanetsky, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter, in a statement. “We want to support providers with strategies and solutions that can ensure quality care for people living with dementia, but we also want to better understand the needs of providers, so we can be an asset in helping them meet the complex care needs of individuals and families affected.”

The initiative has four core goals: improve health outcomes, enhance the clinical experience for people with dementia and their caregivers, reduce the burden on clinicians and manage the cost of care more effectively.

“When dementia care is not managed well, health outcomes suffer and healthcare costs increase,” Kanetsky said. “By working with health systems, we aim to improve both sides of the equation, where people living with dementia get timely, high-quality care and the cost to the system is lower.”

Nationally, Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease, with care totaling more than $290 billion this year. Studies have shown that early diagnosis and proper management of dementia can improve outcomes and reduce costs.

More than 220,000 Ohioans live with Alzheimer’s – a figure that is expected to rise 13.6% in coming years – and more than 5,000 died from the disease. Per capita Medicare spending for dementia in 2018 was $25,101 in Ohio. Across the state, there are 603,000 caregivers as of 2018. There were 687 million hours of unpaid care with a total value of $8.7 billion.

For more information, contact Boehm at [email protected] or 937 610 0933. For additional information, or to connect with local services, contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800 272 3900 or visit Alz.org/eastohio.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.