As Missourians age, dementia is expected to increase. Is the state set up to handle it?

The Missouri State Alzheimer's Taskforce recently released its report and recommendations for how the state should address Alzheimer's disease and dementias in its aging population. The recommendations included increased funding for respite services and public health efforts, and the establishment of a statewide dementia services coordinator.

More than 120,000 individuals in Missouri are living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. It's estimated that, with the aging population, that number will exceed 130,000 by 2025. In 2020, the Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's totaled $973 million, and that number is expected to increase by nearly 17% by 2025. Missouri also had 194,000 caregivers who provided nearly $4.9 billion worth of unpaid care in 2021.

What is the taskforce? Who is on it?

The Missouri Alzheimer's State Plan Taskforce is a group that was commissioned by the state legislature to, among other things, assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's on Missourians and offer solutions for the future.

The group, which is chaired by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, includes a mix of state government and private citizens. Missouri's Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Social Services, Department of Mental Health, Division, the Missouri Veterans Commission and the House of Representatives and State Senate all have members on the taskforce. Professionals who advocate for and work with people with Alzheimer's, caregivers and a person with Alzheimer's round out the rest of the group.

More:Newly formed state Alzheimer's taskforce visits Springfield on listening tour

What are some of the recommendations?

The group identified four areas the state needs to focus on, as well as goals and recomendations for each area.

• Advance risk reduction, early detection, timely diagnosis:

The group recommended that the state designate Alzheimer's as a public health issue, and fund public health campaigns educating the public and medical professionals.

• Increase access to care, support, and treatment:

For the past decade, Missouri's budget for Alzheimer's respite grants is $450,000 despite the number of Missourians living with Alzheimer's increasing by 10,000. The taskforce recommended that the state increase respite funding to $1 million in 2023, and then increase the budget by $500,000 each year after that to reach $3 million.

• Improve quality care:

The taskforce recommended that the state improve its licensure requirements for memory care units and memory care facilities, and implement minimum standards of training for medical professionals, first responders and caregivers to increase dementia competency.

To accelerate workforce development and help ease the long waits and lack of options, the group recommended that the state partner with higher learning institutions to ensure awareness of the need for quality care. It also suggested the state use grants, tax-credits or other programs to incentivize services in rural communities.

• Ensure a coordinated statewide response:

The taskforce suggested establishing and funding a full-time state dementia services coordinator, under the public health division of DHSS.

More:Study: Soda, breakfast cereal, frozen foods associated with long-term cognitive decline

How did the taskforce identify those areas?

Throughout fall and winter in 2022, the group sought input during eight town-hall style community forums, including one in Springfield. During those, five issues came up most often:

• Limited public knowledge about Alzheimer's and other dementias;

• Greater need for respite services and resources for caregivers;

• Financial coverage of respite services and long-term care options;

• Difficulty receiving a diagnosis, especially in rural areas;

• Limited knowledge within the health care system of the resources and how to provide care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias.

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: MO taskforce: More funds, state coordinator needed to handle dementia