In May 2015, Governor Pete Ricketts signed LB320, calling for the creation of a State Plan on Alzheimer’s disease. The legislation requires the Aging Nebraskans Task Force to assess existing resources in the state, provide recommendations to meet the growing needs of those impacted by Alzheimer’s, and develop strategies to identify gaps in community services. The Task Force included representatives from state agencies, long-term care organizations, elder law, and community organizations as well as economists, seniors, caregivers, and aging advocates. The Nebraska State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias was published in June 2016. A State Plan Infographic is also available.

Require the Direct Care Staff Training Curriculum to Include Dementia

A cornerstone of providing quality dementia care is dementia-specific training for professional care staff. Direct care staff at Alzheimer’s special care units are required to receive four hours of annual training, though the statutes do not define the curriculum topics. To ensure direct care workers are providing quality dementia care, the Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to require the training curriculum for direct care staff to include information on providing person-centered dementia care based on thorough knowledge of the care recipient and their needs, care planning, activities of daily living, and dementia-related behaviors.

Incorporate Dementia Into Existing Public Health Campaigns

Nebraska is home to 35,100 people living with Alzheimer’s and 40,000 unpaid caregivers. By 2025, the number of Nebraskans living with Alzheimer’s is estimated to increase by 14.3%. As the dementia population grows, Nebraskans need information on obtaining a timely and accurate diagnosis, the early signs of dementia, care planning, and treatment options. The Alzheimer’s Association, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementia Advisory Council, Tobacco Free Nebraska, and the Minority Health Initiative, is urging state agencies to incorporate information on dementia and brain health into existing public health campaigns.