Dear Editor,

Living with Alzheimer’s disease can be very challenging, as caregivers (including my family) can surely attest. While the Alzheimer’s Assoc. provides much needed support and education, often medical professionals give little guidance. Thankfully, the bipartisan Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act (S.1125/ H.R. 2517) would create a path for better dementia care and address shortcomings in the way dementia care is currently delivered. Dementia care management would allow Americans to more seamlessly navigate the health care and social support systems and to obtain more timely access to care.

It is estimated that 92,000 Coloradans will suffer from Alzheimer’s by 2025, so it is critical that we find better ways to care for all of us. By enhancing the coordination of dementia care, we can lessen the burden for individuals and their caregivers while reducing health care costs.

For 2021, in Colorado, volunteer caregivers (usually family members) for people with Alzheimer’s provided care valued at $3.7 billion. The Alzheimer’s Association and I are asking Sen. Hickenlooper to cosponsor the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act. To learn more about this disease and how you can join the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease, please visit alzimpact.org.

Dan Thomas

Nederland