Op-Ed: Prepare the Dementia Workforce

On June 11th, the FDA endorsed approval of a drug that slows progression of Alzheimer’s disease - perfect timing, given that June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.

This news reminds me of my beloved great-grandmother, who suffered from dementia. When I was young, my father and I would visit during the summer and care for her. What was especially heart-wrenching was that she was never diagnosed by a doctor, or received treatment. Worse, the stigma of her condition led family to shun her. The heartbreak I felt deeply impacted my life. Now, I volunteer at an Alzheimer’s healthcare center, where I care for elderly patients and brighten their days through activities and companionship.

As a dementia caregiver, I’m used to tantrums and repetitive conversations; aggression, repetitive behavior, and refusal of care are common Alzheimer’s symptoms. But these symptoms are a breaking point for many families, leading them to send their loved one to nursing homes. Even physicians aren’t prepared for the growing need for healthcare to treat dementia symptoms - California must nearly triple the number of geriatricians (dementia care specialists) by 2050 to meet the demand. This unmet need grows as California’s Alzheimer’s population increases: the number of Alzheimer’s patients aged 65 years or older in California is projected to increase 21.7% from 2020 to 2025, nearing 1 million.

Thankfully, the Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act (H.R. 7688) will improve our dementia workforce, training primary care providers to deliver high-quality dementia care. Please join me in asking Barbara Lee, our Congresswoman, to improve dementia healthcare by cosponsoring the AADAPT Act today. You can take action at this link. This Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, let’s work together to improve quality of life for dementia patients.