Alzheimer’s Panel Calls For Wide Ranging Changes

August 11, 2013

Saying Florida is the “epicenter” of an epidemic of Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia, a legislatively created panel has recommended a wide range of changes in the state’s efforts to address the memory-robbing diseases.

The Purple Ribbon Task Force issued a report last week that calls for steps such as setting aside $10 million a year to support research and creating a grant program similar to already-existing programs that fund biomedical and cancer research.

The report, for example, also calls for increasing the use of adult day-care services, providing statewide training for law-enforcement officers about Alzheimer’s-related issues and ensuring access to services and resources for the Hispanic and African-American populations — which have a greater prevalence of the diseases.

Lawmakers in 2012 approved creation of the task force, which posted the report on the state Department of Elder Affairs website. The 18-member task force included Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples, Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, and representatives of groups such as caregivers, law enforcement, care facilities and elder-law attorneys.

Comments

One Response to “Alzheimer’s Panel Calls For Wide Ranging Changes”

  1. Answer please on August 11th, 2013 10:12 am

    “ensuring access to services and resources for the Hispanic and African-American populations” Why must we always “ensure” anything for other than AMERICAN-AMERICANS?