The Act on Alzheimer launced in 2011 following the recommendations of a state-appointed working group on Alzheimer’s preparedness. Minnesota is leading the way in developing dementia-and Alzheimer’s friendly communities.
The push to equip communities with the tools to accommodate residents with dementia is one facet of a growing movement to meet the needs of the country’s growing older population.
In Minnesota, approximately 92,000 older adults have Alzheimer’s – the most common form of dementia – and that number is expected to grow to 120,000 by 2025.
Overall in Minnesota, more than 40 communities have committed to becoming demenita-friendly, and more than 1,500 physicians and health care coordinators have been trained on how to communicate with people with dementia.
Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and accounts for 60-80 percent of cases. Other types include Lewy Bodies, Frontotemporal, and Vascular.
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