Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a public health crisis in Arizona, where the rate of Alzheimer’s disease is rising the fastest in the country. State spending in 2020 put him at $414 million, a staggering figure he’s expected to grow by almost 32% by 2025.

Dementia is a common disease, but many people don’t realize that it is often overlooked by doctors, patients and families. Patients mostly don’t complain, and families often think that if it’s important, the doctor will notice. Many people assume that the early symptoms are part of the normal aging process, or worry quietly so as not to embarrass their loved ones. As a result, many dementias can progress before a formal diagnosis is made.

A diagnosis of dementia is devastating, regardless of the timing. However, early diagnosis gives patients and family caregivers time to make decisions and prepare for next steps. You can plan how you will divide caregiving responsibilities. You can prepare for known safety issues and make necessary changes to keep your loved ones at home for as long as possible. They can learn about current and potential drugs and treatments and be sure they understand if, how, and when to use them. Behavioral problems can be predicted so treatment is not delayed. Find out about local support and memory care facilities so that you can plan how you can afford and be comfortable in the event that you are no longer able to care for your loved one at home.

Caregivers can also seek support groups to help them feel supported and stay healthy during the caregiving period. Caregivers of people with dementia report higher rates of chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer compared with caregivers of people without dementia and those who don’t care. This is especially important because

Does your family notice the early signs of dementia in a loved one? How does your family cope if they are diagnosed with dementia? Do you know what happens after the initial diagnosis? And what will the coming months and years look like? With so many questions, families diagnosed with dementia have access to coordinated support services wherever they live. I need to be able to.

In 2011, Arizona established the Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force and, with the support of private funding and contributions from diverse stakeholder groups, created the Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease State Plan: Framework for Action in 2016. Did. Despite this commendable start, due to lack of funding and efforts led by designated state agencies such as the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS), the plan is being reviewed, updated, and fully funded statewide. Not implemented. As a result, efforts to tackle Alzheimer’s disease are fragmented and uncoordinated statewide, despite successful models of community-based collaboration in some areas, such as Pima County. The Pima County model could be replicated statewide through his DHS leadership, convening stakeholders and experts to coordinate a comprehensive response to Alzheimer’s disease.

Time is not on our side. Governors and legislators to provide designated funding to DHS dementia-specific programs to improve coordination of dementia services among state agencies, identify service gaps, and increase early detection and diagnosis is urgent.

Funding these programs with DHS is the state’s plan for how to address labor shortages, caregiver stress, health care, legal, and social support, especially in underserved areas. help you to Arizona families need these programs. They need help, support and resources to help them cope with the dreaded and difficult dementia diagnosis.

visit ALZ.org Read the Alzheimer’s Association’s Facts and Figures report to learn how families can prepare if they have dementia. And share your story with your local legislators. we need funds now.