Description:
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans, is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and is a leading cause of disability and poor health for older adults. Furthermore, the cost of care for dementia is high for Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers.¹ In 2020, Medicare and Medicaid will spend an estimated $206 billion caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias—67 percent of total costs.² The emotional and physical burden of dementia is also immense, not only for the individuals with dementia, but also for their families and caregivers. Most people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias receive the majority of their care from their caregivers who are usually unpaid.¹
This webinar describes best practices and guidelines for diagnosing and assessing dementia among older adults who are dually eligible and provides an overview of current evidence-based treatments. Speakers, including a caregiver, discuss firsthand experiences and lessons learned, including the impact of different interventions and approaches on older adults with dementia and their caregivers.
By the end of this webinar, participants should be able to:
- Identify best practices and guidelines for diagnosis of dementia in older adults including screening methods and key assessments
- Describe current evidence-based pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options that mitigate symptoms of dementia in older adults
- Recognize the important roles of caregivers in managing dementia and the interventions for supporting caregivers
- Recognize roles and strategies for community-based organizations and health systems in supporting older adults with dementia, including those who are dually eligible, and their caregivers
Featured Speakers:
- David Reuben, MD, Director, Multicampus Program in Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology and Chief, Division of Geriatrics at UCLA.
- David Bass, PhD, Senior Vice President and Director of the Center for Research and Education, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
- Michelle Panlilio, NP, UCLA in the Department of Geriatrics as a Nurse Practitioner and Care Manager
- Ann Cheslaw, Caregiver
Intended Audience:
This webinar is intended for a wide range of stakeholders – includes health plan leaders, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, caregivers, and organizations that provide services for dually eligible beneficiaries including managed long-term services and supports programs and consumer organizations.
References:
¹ Alzheimer’s Association (2019). 2019 Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures. Retrieved from: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures.
² Alzheimer’s Association. (2019). Cost of Alzheimer’s to Medicare and Medicaid. Retrieved from: https://act.alz.org/site/DocServer/2012_Costs_Fact_Sheet_version_2.pdf?docID=7161.