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Battle for an Alzheimer’s Cure
As the population of the United States ages, more people are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other age-related dementias. To step up efforts to address this major public health problem, the federal government, private industry, academia, and advocacy groups are working together through partnerships and collaborations to better share information and resources.
First U.S. Campaign Alzheimer’s Plan
Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) was signed into law in 2011. This law requires the development of a national plan to accelerate research toward treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s, and to improve care, services, and support to people with Alzheimer’s, families and caregivers.
On May 15, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services released the first-ever U.S. National Alzheimer’s Plan. The Plan has five major goals:
- Prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease by 2025.
- Expand supports for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.
- Enhance public awareness and engagement.
- Improve data to track progress.
- Enhance care quality and efficiency.
Alzheimer’s.gov Launched
One of the immediate results of this Plan is a new government website: alzheimers.gov. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) launched this free information resource for families and individuals facing Alzheimer’s. Here you can find links to authoritative, up-to-date information from agencies and organizations with expertise in these areas. Like Medicare.gov, the government’s website for all things Medicare, alzheimers.gov should become a progressively powerful tool for supporting “…the people helping the people with Alzheimer’s.”
Alzheimer’s Site: A Battling Infant
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
While the Alzheimers.gov site is young, it already provides valuable, mature content for caregivers.
The following information is already available to anyone who logs into the site. This resource can only grow.
- Alzheimer’s symptoms
- Alzheimer’s risk factors
- Diagnosing Alzheimer’s
- The stages of Alzheimer’s
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- What is Alzheimer’s, its symptoms and risk factors?
- How is Alzheimer’s diagnosed?
- What are the stages of Alzheimer’s?
- What is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
- Medical treatments, what they do
- What are clinical trials
- How to begin the trial process
- Developing a financial plan
- Developing a legal plan
- Paying for care and services
- Challenges and coping strategies
- Where to find help
- Self and family care
- How to stay healthy while caregiving
- Caregiver resources
- Finding Alzheimer’s capable resources
- Options for home care and residential care facilities
- Efforts to fight Alzheimer’s
An accompanying ad campaign has been developed by HHS in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association to help raise awareness and provide support to those living with the disease. The ad campaign will begin later this summer.
EDITOR’S NOTE: ElderAuthority.com is an active advocate in the battle to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. See ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION ADVOCACY FORUM (D.C.)
