Picture supplied
Volunteer advocates from throughout Indiana will urge lawmakers to go laws to assist Hoosiers affected by Alzheimer’s and different dementia throughout the Alzheimer’s Affiliation Higher Indiana Chapter’s State Advocacy Day, Tuesday, Feb. 7, on the Indiana Statehouse.
This would be the chapter’s first in-person advocacy day because the pandemic.
Advocates’ high legislative precedence is passage of Home Invoice 1422, authored by Reps. Gregory Porter (D-Indianapolis) and Brad Barrett (R-Richmond). The invoice would set up a Dementia Care Specialist Program, directing every of the state’s Space Companies on Ageing to create full-time positions that may convey dementia experience to native communities. Dementia Care Specialists would supply neighborhood training and assist join caregivers with sources. These providers may also help people keep of their properties and stay energetic of their communities longer. This system would value about $1.5 million a yr over the course of two years. The same program in North Dakota yielded greater than $39 million in long-term financial savings.
“Indiana spends $1 billion a yr in Medicaid funds on Alzheimer’s alone, and that quantity will enhance exponentially until we construct a basis to make Indiana a extra dementia-capable state,” stated David Sklar, director of presidency affairs, Alzheimer’s Affiliation Higher Indiana Chapter. “This invoice is an funding that may scale back long-term prices and – most significantly – higher assist individuals residing with this illness and their caregivers. The time to behave is now.”
Audio system on the advocacy Day occasion will embrace Darlene Bradley, a Hancock County girl who resides with early stage Alzheimer’s illness; Alzheimer’s Affiliation govt director Natalie Sutton and Governor Eric Holcomb.
“We’re honored that Governor Holcomb has agreed to talk at this yr’s Advocacy Day, and we assist his efforts to enhance Indiana’s public well being system,” continued Sklar. “Provided that one in each three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or one other type of dementia, it’s essential that investments in public well being deal with the impression of this illness.”
