Alzheimer's Services
More than 35 states now have statewide plans in place or officially in the works to deal with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Idaho is not one of them. We need a plan to help assess and reduce the burden of this disease on our growing population of Alzheimer’s patients, their caregivers and our government. Do we have the right type and number of facilities and services in place? Are we making sure Idahoans have the best therapeutic and caregiving services available? Are we using taxpayer dollars effectively? A state plan will ensure this, and in the fall of 2010, a group of citizens formed the IAPG to bring such a plan about.
The IAPG is comprised of educators, researchers, administrators, service providers and other advocates. It is a project of Boise State University's Center for the Study of Aging, in conjunction with the Idaho Commission on Aging (ICOA). IAPG’s own steering committee includes numerous stakeholders, such as representatives from Idaho AARP and the national Alzheimer’s Association. Its members are committed to developing a comprehensive, realistic set of recommendations to meet this public health and financial challenge - a strategic plan that can be supported by our state legislators and our governor.