Elder Justice

Posted on June 5, 2010 by bob in ElderJust

Alzheimer’s Task Force

The 2010 Legislature’s recent enactment of the “Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force” offers fresh hope for dementia victims and their families and a unified statewide effort by key agencies, support groups and professions.

The 26-member Task Force, to be convened by the Governor, will be anchored in the Alabama Department of Mental Health, with a deadline of March 1, 2011 to report to the new Governor and new Legislature.

According to Dr. Rich Powers, Medical Director for the Department of Mental Health and a recognized world expert on the disease, “85,000 Alabamians suffer Alzheimer’s and the number grows steadily, impacting huge numbers of families and caregivers.”

The new Task Force, which includes at least one Alzheimer’s victim, has a three-fold mission:

— assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias on Alabama citizens
— examine the full range of current services and healthcare manpower
— draft a full-state strategy to meet the needs of persons with Alzheimer’s, their families and caregivers

The new law defines Alzheimer’s disease as a “crisis.” In addition to its stronger coordination of health services and quality of care standards, the Task Force has the unique assignment of measuring the “…capacity of public safety and law enforcement to respond to persons with dementia.”

The new Act’s sponsor, Rep. Laura Hall of Huntsville, says, “Alzheimer’s disease and the related dementias will be a true, tough test of Alabama’s dedication to enhanced healthcare and, most importantly, of our compassion for all those lives touched by this challenging disease.”

Appointments to the Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force are expected to be available soon.

The Alabama Elder Justice Project (AEJP) will assist in the work with a special focus on the potential victimization of dementia sufferers by perpetrators of physical, financial and sexual abuse.

Continuous research, insights and materials are available at www.alzbrain.org or via the Alabama Dementia and Training Program in Tuscaloosa, 1-800-457-5679.

Bill Fuller is an attorney, former member of the Alabama House of Representatives, past Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Human Resources, and Founding Director of the Alabama Elder Justice Project. He can be reached at 334-414-1941, or via e-mail at billfuller@freshsprings.org.