Collaborative Work and Goals for ACTing on Alzheimer’s

Caregiver Support Priority and Local Resources

The work of ACT on Alzheimer’s® succeeds largely because of the passion and commitment of the partners, supporters, action communities and Minnesotans dedicated to preparing our state for the future.

As a statewide collaboration, ACT on Alzheimer’s fosters collective ownership and accountability in preparing Minnesota for the personal, social and budgetary impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  No single organization owns, finances or controls the initiative.  The collaboration has more than 250 participants, including 60+ nonprofit, governmental and private organizations, and works toward five goals:

• Identify and invest in promising approaches that reduce costs and improve care.
• Increase detection of Alzheimer’s disease and improve ongoing care and support.
• Sustain caregivers by offering them information, resources and in-person support.
• Equip communities to be “dementia capable” to support residents who are touched by Alzheimer’s disease.
• Raise awareness and reduce stigma by engaging communities.

Collaborative: Background

In 2009, to tackle the mounting Alzheimer’s crisis in Minnesota, the Minnesota Legislature charged the Minnesota Board on Aging to establish the Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group (ADWG) and make recommendations for policies and programs that would prepare Minnesota for the future.

The ADWG developed a set of recommendations for the Legislature in January 2011.  A coalition was formed to focus on implementing the recommendations.  Originally called Prepare Minnesota for Alzheimer’s 2020 (PMA 2020), it is now ACT on Alzheimer’s.

Submitted by

Cathy Clairmont, English Rose Suites