2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

332756
State Plans and Actions to Reduce the Burden of Alzheimer's Disease on People, Caregivers, and Communities


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Molly French, MS, Public Policy Division, Alzheimer's Association, Washington, DC
Randi Chapman, JD, Public Policy Division, Alzheimer's Association, Washington, DC
     
State Alzheimer’s disease plans provide a comprehensive blueprint to confront the Alzheimer’s crisis. State plans are one of 16 state-level actions in The Healthy Brain Initiative: The Public Health Road Map for State and National Partnerships. Implementation of state plans is essential to reduce the burden of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Study objectives were to examine correspondence between the 37 state plans published as of December 2014 and state-level Road Map actions; and to document and analyze states’ implementation of these public health-related actions.

The first analysis categorized state plan elements by Road Map actions then used quantitative methods to assess states’ public health responses to Alzheimer’s. The second analysis reviewed documents and surveyed Alzheimer’s Association chapters to collect data about Road Map implementation. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of these data in spring 2015 will generate a descriptive snapshot of state-level actions.

Results from the first analysis indicate 35 of 37 (95%) state plans address training healthcare professionals and others to provide high quality care and support to individuals with Alzheimer’s, and 34 (92%) address increasing public awareness of Alzheimer’s. Sixteen (43%) plans include activities to promote brain health, and 19 (51%) address legal issues faced by individuals affected by Alzheimer’s.  The second analysis will conclude in August 2015.

The presentation will describe study methods and results to provide a snapshot of state plan and implementation efforts to reduce the burden on Alzheimer’s. The findings will be discussed in terms of opportunities to strengthen population health responses to the crisis.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe three or more common elements of state Alzheimer’s disease plans in which public health can play a role. Compare and contrast implementation of state plan elements across the U.S.

Keyword(s): Dementia, Public Health Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Molly French is the Director of Public Health for the Alzheimer’s Association, managing the organization’s public health policy work. In this role, she works closely with state and national public health organizations. Previously, she consulted with national nonprofits on population health issues, directed policy research for Partnership for Prevention, and advanced health policy in California. Molly earned her MS from The University of Texas at Austin and a BA from Drake University.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2052.0: Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Impairment