Georgia is leading the way in Alzheimer’s and dementia care

Currently, there are 188,300 Georgians living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s doesn’t just impact the person living with the disease, it also affects the person’s caregiver and family. In Georgia, there are currently 391,000 caregivers dedicated to helping those living with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is raising awareness about the resources available for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.  

DHS's Division of Aging Services has an Aging Dementia Team that provides several programs and services to improve awareness of and access to dementia-related care, including the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (GARD) Collaborative, Georgia Memory Net (GMN), the Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative (ADPI), and the Dementia Care Specialist (DCS) program for the state.  

The GARD Collaborative is a statewide network that includes representatives from agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and people living with dementia and their care partners. The GARD Collaborative comprises six different work groups focused on workforce development, service delivery, outreach and partnerships, policy, public safety, and healthcare, data, and research collection. These work groups identify needs and seek solutions in the form of resources and services to improve the lives of those living with dementia. To learn more, visit the GARD webpage here. 

GMN is a statewide program developed in partnership with Emory University to expand access to early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and to support those living with dementia, including caregivers. GMN trains physicians to properly screen for the disease and collect data in a manner that will allow the state to better support those living with dementia. Cognitive neurology and neuropsychology leads based in Emory’s Cognitive Neurology Program train and continuously work with Memory Assessment Clinics (MAC) across the state to ensure the MAC providers have the tools and training they need to effectively and accurately diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias using evidence-based, clinically-proven tools. Learn more about GMN and where to find a MAC here.  

DAS also supports dementia-focused initiatives through the Administration for Community Living’s (ACL) Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative (ADPI) grant. This grant is dedicated to support and promote the development and expansion of dementia-capable home and community-based service systems, both at the state and community levels. 

The mission of the DCS program is to increase dementia education and awareness, build stronger community partnerships, and support care partners to expand skills and resources to support people living with dementia. There are 13 Dementia Care Specialists spread across the state, with one in each of the 12 AAAs (and one additional DCS at the Atlanta Regional Commission AAA). To locate a DCS in your area, please visit the AAA locations webpage here.  

The State Unit on Aging is leading the way in addressing Alzheimer’s and dementia by working every day to increase brain health programming and improve access to diagnosis to make our state more dementia-capable for those living with dementia and their caregivers.  

If you or someone you know is living with dementia, there are a number of resources available and ways to help families affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias: 

• Locate a DCS in your area by visiting the AAA locations webpage here. 
• Learn more about GMN here. 
• Locate resources via the Georgia Aging & Disability Resource Connection by visiting aging.georgia.gov/programs-and-services/adrc or by calling 1-866-552-4464.  

Join us this June as we raise awareness, support our fellow Georgians, and take action to improve the lives of individuals and families living with dementia.  

Related to: 

• Division of Aging Services