ARKANSAS, USA — As the Arkansas legislative session draws closer, the Arkansas Alzheimer's Association has its list of several major requests ready.
At the top of the list is more funding for the Dementia Respite Caregiver Grant Program. The grant allows caregivers to apply for a grant to hire someone, so they can take a short respite from caring for their loved one.
"If we invest in caregiver support, we can allow people to age in place longer and delay placement in more costly care settings," David Cook with the Alzheimer's Association said. "Any of our caregivers also have children at the homes, and so they're caring for an aging parent but also caring for a child in the house. So this gives them time to take that respite to attend to other household duties."
Right now, the program gets $200,000 from the state. Cook said it needs to be more.
"Kansas has a program similar to this that's funded at $650,000, so you can kind of see the gap," Cook said. "We need more money to ensure that there's greater access to this grant program."
Cook said another big ask is funding for public awareness and research.
"The FDA has approved two treatments for Alzheimer's patients, but these treatments are only effective for people in the very early stages," he said. "It's essential that public health establishes a campaign and get more aggressive in spreading the word across the state about the importance of early detection and diagnosis of dementia."
Cook said state lawmakers are finally starting to pay attention.
"What we are learning as we have conversations with lawmakers is that many of them feel it personally," he said. "They've either lost a family member, or they are caring for someone who has a diagnosis. And so it's it's not a red or blue issue. It is certainly bipartisan. It touches everybody, and it's one thing that we often say brings lawmakers together."
The Alzheimer's Association's list of recommendations has been sent to the Governor's Office and leadership in both the state House and Senate for review.
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