The Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) engages communities across Florida to be more dementia caring, promote better care for Floridians affected by dementia, and support research efforts to find a cure. Being a dementia-caring community means there are services and supports in place to make that community hospitable to someone living with dementia, their caregivers, families, and loved ones. DOEA wants those living with dementia to still play a vital role within their communities – with each interaction they have while out will be a positive one, created out of respect and understanding.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, and Florida has the second-highest incidence in the country, with approximately 580,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s. This number is expected to increase to 720,000 by 2025, and these statistics are not inclusive of other forms of dementia, nor the hundreds of thousands who serve as unpaid care partners.
In collaboration with Florida’s 11 Area Agencies on Aging and 17 Memory Disorder Clinics, participating DCCI communities organize Task Forces consisting of community professionals and stakeholders who work to bring education about, awareness of, and sensitivity regarding the needs of those affected by dementia.
DCCI Information Sheet – Spanish
Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Statistics
(Source: Alzheimer’s Association, 2021)
Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative
For more information, or to set up a dementia sensitivity training in your area, please contact DCCI@elderaffairs.org.
Florida State’s Health Improvement Plan (SHIP)
To drive health improvement and enhance the performance of Florida’s public health system, the State of Florida, under the leadership of the Florida State Surgeon General, assembled a diverse group of partners across public and private sectors to create a practical roadmap that enables and informs meaningful action. This process culminated in the development of Florida’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), which serves as a five-year blueprint for driving efficient and targeted collective action to enhance public health. With the priority health areas determined, the SHIP Steering Committee created Priority Area Workgroups (PAWs) and tasked them with identifying impactful goals for each of the seven priority health areas. PAW partners will track and report metrics toward implementation of the SHIP over the course of the five-year plan. The Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) has connected with statewide partners, such as the Florida Department of Health (FLDOH), to further align aging at the state level. The FLDOH has a priority area designated in their State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) that is focused on providing resources and support for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, their caregivers, and families. DOEA works in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association to facilitate these initiatives and efforts.
Our strategic priority is Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia among the senior population. Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. The greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older. There is no known cure, however, innovative research may provide hope for effective and novel treatment for this incapacitating disease
Our goals for the next 5-years are highlighted below:
Goal 1: Strengthen the capacity to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Goal 2: Ensure a competent Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias workforce.
Goal 3: Enhance support for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their caregivers.
For more information about SHIP, please visit: https://floridaship.org/priority-area-workgroups/
