New resources for people with dementia and their families

Release Date: 
Jul 31 2017
DSHS Office of Communications
Chris Wright
chris.wright@dshs.wa.gov
(360) 902-8338

OLYMPIA - More than 107,000 people in Washington have Alzheimer’s disease or another other form of dementia. By 2040, that number is expected to grow to over 270,000. When you or a loved one develops memory loss or other cognitive impairments, it can be a difficult time for the entire family. Recognizing the impacts of dementia and that caring for a loved one with it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, the Dementia Action Collaborative of Washington state is developing easy, straightforward resources for families. 

"At some point, most of us will spend time with someone with memory loss or dementia," said Bea Rector, Acting Assistant Secretary for DSHS's Aging and Long-Term Support Administration (ALTSA). "By working together through the Dementia Action Collaborative, we aim to make Washington more dementia-friendly by providing practical information to families. Hopefully, we can help them anticipate and answer questions that can be difficult to ask and help them know where to turn for information."

The latest resource, the Dementia Road Map: A Guide for Family and Care Partners, is now available online. The Road Map outlines what may lie ahead, including medical and lifestyle decisions, care options and legal considerations. The Road Map also includes simple check lists and action steps for each phase of dementia as well as a summary of helpful organizations and documents.  

The Road Map is the latest resource developed by the Collaborative in the past year. Also available online:

The Dementia Action Collaborative was born out of Governor Inslee’s State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias. The Collaborative is a unique group of Washington organizations and individuals that aim to foster hope and empowerment for Washingtonians with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, one in which they and their families will receive the support and care they need through early detection and diagnosis, dementia-capable health and long- term supports and services and communities that are prepared to meet their needs. The Collaborative includes people with dementia, family caregivers, State agencies, advocacy organizations, medical professionals, health and long term care providers and university experts.

Information on the Dementia Action Collaborative is available online at www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/dementia-action-collaborative