The head of the Alzheimer Society of Washington is encouraging primary care providers and the general public to take part in two surveys that will help craft a state plan to respond to a growing number of people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Dec. 31 is the deadline to respond to the surveys, which are brief.
Kathy Sitker, executive director for the Bellingham-based nonprofit, is part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group. The society was one of 25 groups appointed by the state Department of Social and Health Services to be part of the working group.
About 110,000 state residents have Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. That number is expected to grow to 150,000 by 2025, according to the working group.
“This is important for the state, and I want the people of Whatcom County to have a voice concerning this plan,” Sitker said.
The surveys will gather information on how public and private partners can respond to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
It asks the public, especially those who have been diagnosed and their family, to share what they think is most needed in Washington state.
The general public survey is at surveymonkey.com/s/AlzGP.
The survey’s aim for primary care providers is to gather information on challenges and practices around cognitive screening, assessment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, according to the work group.
The survey for health care providers is at surveymonkey.com/s/PriCareALZHEIMER.