Alzheimer's Association urges Arkansas to create dementia services coordinator, expand caregiver supports

David Cook of the Alzheimer's Association presented the updated Arkansas Alzheimer's and dementia state plan to the Senate Children and Youth Committee, summarizing prevalence, projected growth and policy recommendations to expand services and coordinate state response.

Cook cited national prevalence (about 6 million people) and Arkansas-specific estimates of about 58,000 Arkansans over age 65 living with Alzheimer's; he said prevalence is projected to increase and that that growth will increase demand on Medicaid, workforce, caregivers and other state systems. He noted the BOLD Act and that Arkansas has received core capacity funding under that legislation.

The plan centers on four priorities: public awareness and education (including early detection), access and quality of care, caregiver supports, and workforce training. Cook emphasized a lead recommendation to establish a dementia services coordinator within state government to coordinate agencies, reduce duplication and track implementation; the association's preference was that the coordinator reside at the Department of Human Services because DHS houses the Division of Aging and related behavioral services, though Cook said discussions with the Department of Health are ongoing.

Cook also described a pilot dementia caregiver respite grant that provided $200,000 with no administrative set-aside; by November the pilot had spent about $110,000 and had a requirement that at least 25% of funds go to rural communities; the association reported roughly 30% of funds had reached rural areas but said reach into the Delta and northeast Arkansas remained limited.

Cook urged modest investments in data collection, dementia resource centers (in partnership with UAMS Centers on Aging and other nonprofits), and dementia-specific training for adult protective services, long-term care ombudsmen, investigators, law enforcement and first responders. He said early detection matters because emerging treatments are most effective in earlier stages.

Ending: Committee members voiced strong support, pressed for the coordinator's authorizing language and fiscal estimates, and asked the association and agencies to supply a fiscal impact for proposed positions and programs ahead of the session.