Dementia Guide
STATEWIDE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (SHIP 4)
OFFICE OF STATEWIDE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES
DEMENTIA GUIDE
Dementia Guide
Minnesota Department of Health
Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives
PO Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164-0882
651-201-5443
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/oshii/
December 2015
Upon request, this material will be made available in an alternative format such as large print, Braille or audio recording.
NOTE: Content in this guide is subject to change. Watch Basecamp for news on any updates.
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Contents
Dementia: A Public Health Priority....................................................................................................4
Definition of Strategy ...................................................................................................................... 4
Goal .................................................................................................................................................. 5
SHIP: Making a difference ............................................................................................................... 6
Priority Populations ......................................................................................................................... 7
Scope ................................................................................................................................................ 7
Requirements .................................................................................................................................. 7
Technical assistance and training ................................................................................................... 7
Recommended Partners ................................................................................................................. 7
Foundational Practices .................................................................................................................... 8
Implementation steps ................................................................................................................... 10
Locations ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Raising Awareness ......................................................................................................................... 10
Caregiver Support Activities ............................................................................................................11
Public Health Opportunities for Formal Support ......................................................................... 11
Support from Employers ............................................................................................................... 12
Activity Definitions ........................................................................................................................ 12
Health Equity Statement ............................................................................................................... 16
Resources & References ..................................................................................................................17
Appendix A – Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging Contact List .................................................. 19
Appendix B – ACTion Community Contacts ................................................................................. 22
Appendix C – Health Equity Call to Action ................................................................................... 26
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Dementia: A Public Health Priority
In the United States
1 in 9 people
age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s, the most prevalent form of dementia1
In Minnesota
The prevalence will grow from 89,000 to
120,000
120,000 by 20251
89,000
Definition of Strategy
Rates of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are predicted to grow at a steady rate over the
next 10 years. In the United States, one in nine people have Alzheimer’s or other dementia. Currently
in Minnesota, an estimated 89,000 adults age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s or other dementia; this
number is predicted to grow to 120,000 by 20251. Minnesota’s cost of caring for this population is
expected to exceed $4 billion (state and private funds) in 2015. This constitutes a very real public
health concern for Minnesotans and their caregivers. Because of these statistics, the Minnesota
Legislature has directed the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) to offer grant recipients
1 Alzheimer’s Association. (2015). Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimer’s & Dementia 11(3), 16-20.
http://www.alz.org/facts/downloads/facts_figures_2015.pdf
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the option to implement health improvement strategies that focus on improving Minnesota’s
dementia outcomes.
Grantees who select to work on activities with a dementia focus for older Minnesotans are asked to
strengthen SHIP’s influence by connecting and working together with the Area Agency on Aging
organization that serves their community. By strengthening SHIP’s connection with older
Minnesotans, this population will benefit by being more socially connected with their communities
and families resulting in extended independent living and reduced use of long-term care facilities.
This guide provides the framework for a comprehensive approach using policy, systems, and
environmental (PSE) changes to improve the health status, delay the expressions of dementia, or
slow the progression of dementia. SHIP will support local community efforts to implement physical
activity, healthy eating, and tobacco-free living strategies lowering citizens’ risk of developing
Alzheimer’s and other dementias as well as slowing the rate of cognitive decline.
Extended independent
living
Increased social
connectedness
Reduced use of longterm care facilities
Strengthening SHIP's
connection with older
Minnesotans
(Partnership Building)
Reduction of Lifestyle
Risk Factors
Reduced
Healthcare
Expenditures
Delayed expression
and/or progression of
dementia
Figure 1 SHIP goals and outcomes
Goal
Grantees who work on strategies with an optional dementia focus will engage in efforts to develop
and implement policy, systems, and environmental changes to improve physical activity, healthy
eating, and reduce tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. This work will result in improved
health status, delay the expression of dementia, or slow the progression of the disease. Goals
include:
•
•
strengthening preparedness for dementia – create dementia friendly communities
health and social systems development to improve care and services for people with
dementia and their caregivers
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•
•
support and education for informal care and caregivers
awareness-raising and advocacy
Delaying the expressions of dementia or slowing the progression of dementia aligns with the SHIP’s
goals as well as with the goal of Healthy People 2020’s new topic area, “Dementias, including
Alzheimer’s disease,” to reduce the morbidity and costs associated with, and maintain or enhance
the quality of life for, persons with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
SHIP: Making a difference
Although the exact etiology of dementia is not yet completely understood, scientific research has
identified certain factors that play a role in its incidence. Potential causes are stratified into two
groups: genetic and lifestyle causes. The genetic causes are inherited within one’s DNA and are not,
at this point, able to be altered. On the contrary, lifestyle factors that contribute to dementia are
modifiable and fall within the realm of SHIP interventions. Lifestyle causes are listed in table 1:
Lifestyle risk factors of dementia and their Population Attributable Risk (PAR), which indicates the
number of cases that would NOT occur in a population if the risk factor were eliminated.
Risk Factor PAR
Diabetes 4.5%
Midlife Hypertension 8.0%
Midlife Obesity 7.3%
Depression 11.1%
Physical Inactivity 21.0%
Smoking 10.8%
Low Education 7.3%
Total 52.7%
*Adjusted Total 30.6%
Table 1 Lifestyle risk factors of dementia and their estimated population-attributable risk (PAR) in the USA 2. *The seven risk factors are
not independent; the authors have adjusted for non-independence of the risk factors.
2 Norton, S., Matthews, F., Barnes, D., Yaffe, K., & Brayne, C. (2014). Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer’s disease: an analysis
of population-based data. Lancet Nurology, 13(8), 788-794. dio:10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70136-X
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Priority Populations
Research shows cognitive decline is progressive and can take up to 20 years to show/exhibit
symptoms; therefore, preventive efforts at middle age or younger can be beneficial. Health
improvement strategies with a dementia focus will target all populations at risk for dementia,
specifically ages 60 and older, as well as their caregivers. According to the Alzheimer’s Association,
more than 15 million people provided 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care to people with Alzheimer’s.
This commitment can lead to emotional burnout and depression, ultimately shortening the length of
time they can provide care in-home.
Scope
Grantees should focus efforts on policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes known to increase
access to physical activity opportunities and support healthy eating and tobacco behavior changes.
Grantees working on activities with a dementia focus engage in efforts to develop and implement
policies and practices that create active communities by increasing opportunities for walking and
bicycling, as well as increase the access of healthy foods and reduction of tobacco use in
communities.
Requirements
Grantees must meet all other requirements of the SHIP and coordinate grant planning with regional-,
and community-based organizations that focus on dementia. Dementia focus activities may be
housed within any of the SHIP strategies. Each grantee selecting this activity must include selected
outcomes and evaluation measures related to the incidence or progression of dementia among the
targeted population. Please note that more information regarding specific evaluation measures for
dementia focused outcomes will be provided from MDH in the future. There are no additional SHIP 4
funds available to address this work.
Technical assistance and training
Training and TA specifically pertaining to the dementia focus is being developed by MDH and will be
available to grantees throughout the grant cycle. In addition to MDH resources, technical assistance
can be provided by the appropriate Area Agency on Aging as well as ACT on Alzheimer’s action
community contact. See Appendices A and B.
Recommended Partners
At a minimum, grantees who select to work on activities for older Minnesotans with a dementia
focus are asked to strengthen SHIP’s influence by connecting and working together with the Area
Agency on Aging organization that serves their community. When brainstorming potential
partnership entities within your community you may find it helpful to utilize the Power Mapping
framework provided by the Community Engagement team. Mapping might be organized into
categories such as who you need to influence, who you actually influence, and who can directly
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influence your target; targets could be stratified by government, civilian health care providers, faith
organizations, and caregiver support entities. The following organizations are also available for
potential partnerships/resources:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Minnesota Board on Aging
Minnesota Department of Human Services
Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota/North Dakota
Communities for a Lifetime Minnesota
ACT on Alzheimer’s dementia-friendly communities
Dementia Friendly America
Living at Home Block Nurse Programs – Living at Home Network
AARP
Volunteers of America
Catholic Charities (local chapters exist in a variety of Minnesota locations)
Lutheran Social Services
Area healthcare providers
Senior living centers
Respite providers and resources
Foundational Practices
The starting point for these foundational practices remains universal among grantees: contact the
appropriate Area Agency on Aging (see appendix A) and ACT on Alzheimer’s action team lead (if
applicable, see Appendix B and http://www.actonalz.org/minnesota-communities). Grantees will
then either develop a partnership with the Area Agency on Aging or enhance a current partnership,
building on existing work wherever possible (see figure 1 for core approaches to sustainable
partnerships). It is extremely important to contact both your Area Agency on Aging and ACT on
Alzheimer’s action team lead; in most cases, they will have already completed a community
assessment or will be in the stages of completing one.
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Core Approaches: Partnerships and Policy
Partnerships &
Coalitions
Who is the most appropriate leader
Effective communication
strategies set the stage
for collaboration and
Establish a
'home' for the
Work
Communication
Strategies
coordination between
Policy for
Sustainable
change in
Systems &
Environments
community? This could be public
health nurses or an ACT on
Core
Approaches
organizations.
for dementia work in your
Alzheimer’s action team.
Skill Building,
Technical
Assistance
Training and skill building will occur at regional
training meetings. SHIP Coordinators within each
county will be responsible for taking these skills and
new knowledge back to their CLT for implementation.
Figure 2 Partnership and Policy model, adapted from the CDC's Sustainability guide to healthy communities.
Start with these foundational practices before beginning to implement this strategy:
•
•
•
•
•
Assess and identify health inequities and disparities to determine which priority populations
and communities to work with.
Engage affected communities.
Communicate and build capacity of people affected and decision-makers.
Prioritize needs and identify how to implement PSE changes by selecting activities.
Sustain partnerships and efforts.
The general steps to implement these foundational practices include:
a. Gather assessment data from Area Agency on Aging or ACT on Alzheimer’s within your
community.
b. If assessment data does not already exist, assemble a team to conduct a community
assessment.
c. Review existing data and collect additional data, as needed, related to population
demographics and disease and risk factor data disparities and inequities.
d. Determine the existence and location of community stakeholders, organizations and
resources.
e. Assess the opportunities and gaps.
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f. Summarize and analyze the assessment data to select priority populations and communities
to work with on this strategy.
Implementation steps
Grantees will focus initial efforts and activities on community engagement and development of
relationships with potential partners, specifically the appropriate Area Agency on Aging. Within the
collaboration of partnerships, a common vision and goals should be established, helping to guide the
work.
Through engagement and relationship building, assessment, and working/learning from local aging
experts and community organizations specializing in aging, grantees will form an overview of current
knowledge and best practices, barriers, high levels of inequities, and possible solutions specific to
their community. With input from local experts, grantees will insert this work into the work plans of
SHIP strategies. Implementation of dementia-focused activities will not include a roll-out of new
programs or activities; rather, grantees should focus initial implementation steps on partnership
building and community assessments. Communities who have an ACT on Alzheimer’s initiative may
have already undergone the assessment and engagement process; therefore, the community needs
and action steps may have already been identified by the ACT on Alzheimer’s team. These
gaps/action steps may provide a starting point for SHIP work if they fall within the SHIP framework of
PSE change.
Locations
Grantees working on this comprehensive strategy for people age 60 and older to decrease or delay
dementia will work with caregivers and senior centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities
transitional care units to improve the nutrition and physical activity environments in programs for
middle age and elderly people.
Raising Awareness
The following key messages can be used to raise awareness and as foundation to build future
activities upon:
•
•
•
•
Sustained ill health as we age is not inevitable. The risk of developing dementia, and other
chronic diseases, may be reduced.
Smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, and being overweight or obese are modifiable risk
factors for dementia (see table 1 for population attributable risk).
The earlier life changes are made the greater the likelihood of decreased risk.
Healthy behaviors are more likely to be maintained if they are built into the policies, systems,
and environments making it inherently easier and sustainable to adopt healthier choices.
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Caregiver Support Activities
When discussing activities targeting dementia-related outcomes, the caregiver is equally as
important as the person with dementia. A 2012 survey by the Amherst Wilder Foundation
interviewed 141 primary caregivers and 71 secondary caregivers in St. Paul, seeking to identify key
challenges and sources of support for caregivers. In the St. Paul area they found that informal
support, such as family, friends, neighbors, and faith communities was most important to caregivers
– more important than health care resources as well as home- and community-based services.
Public Health Opportunities for Formal Support
Transportation
Assistance
Help with
Shopping &
Errands
Nursing
Care
Formal Support
Services
Informal Support
Services
Homedelivered
Meals
Help with
Housekeeping
Caregiver
ormal Sup
Figure 3 Caregiver Support Networks (adapted from Caregiving in Context, Amherst Wilder Foundation, 2012)
“The informal support of the people around them, supplemented with
formal services, is the foundation that primary caregivers stand on when
facing the challenges and distress of their role.”
Amherst Wilder Foundation, 2012
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One of the reasons cited for the lack of importance of health care resources is the fact that significant
barriers to accessing formal systems, such as services provided by state and county agencies,
remains. The public health implication of this survey creates opportunity for action by streamlining
the process between formal support sources and caregivers, resulting in reduced stress, burden, and
time spent trying to access and navigate these services (see Figure 2). This will also allow the
caregiver to focus on enhancing their informal support network. Figure 4 provides two brief examples
of potential SHIP activities that could address this barrier.
If you are working with… you can help a caregiver by
Health care providers Develop policies that ease system navigation.
Health care systems have processes in place for
parents to act as navigators for children. Use
these models to implement systems change
supporting caregivers who act as navigators for
their care recipient.
Service Providers Increase awareness of local, county, and state
social services and Senior LinkAge line.
According to the Amherst Wilder Foundation
study, fewer than 15 percent of caregivers listed
these services as viable information sources.
Figure 4 Caregiver Support Activities
Support from Employers
According to the survey by Amherst Wilder Foundation (2012), the primary way that worksites
supported caregivers was by allowing time flexibility, both in the form of formal and informal flex
options. However, one in five employed caregivers reported receiving no employer support. Grantees
may wish to include employer assessments of current flex policies surrounding caregivers of those
with dementia (see http://fyi.uwex.edu/balancingcare/ for additional resources). Sustaining family
caregivers and support systems is crucial to extending independent living and reduced use of longterm care facilities (see Figure 1).
Activity Definitions
Purpose: Healthy Eating
As people age, interests in eating and mealtime enjoyment can change. Some older adults find their
sense of taste and smell decrease, making food seem less appealing than in the past. Others eat less
due to difficulty chewing or digesting. Medicines also affect appetite, digestion, and can be a cause of
delirium. When a person has AD or other dementia, these problems can become more pronounced,
and mood, behavioral, and physical functioning problems may affect eating as the disease
progresses.
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Studies have found that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that is low in fat and added
sugar can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes,
which increase the risk of developing dementia.
Healthy eating activities will target both WHAT and HOW community members are fed:
•
•
•
•
target interventions to food assistance programs, including Meals on Wheels, EBT, emergency
food systems/food shelves that serve low income and/or older Minnesotans in order to
increase access to healthy food.
support transportation plans that locate bus routes near community food sources and
coordinate bus schedules with those sources open hours.
ensure food sources are located in places easily reached by bus, bike, or on foot.
create healthy food guidelines and establish contracts based on these guidelines that
determine what types of healthy foods vendors and food services must provide at work
places, medical centers, senior housing, long-term care, and other settings that serve older
Minnesotans.
Grantees working on strategies to improve healthy eating with a dementia focus should work to
develop and support population-level initiatives to reduce the risk of dementia by making it easier for
people to access healthy food options and achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Purpose: Active Living
Physical activity consists of helping middle aged and older adults improve the quantity and quality of
physical activity and movement opportunities in places they may frequent within the community.
This includes daily opportunities for structured and unstructured physical activity, both indoors and
outdoors.
Physical activity plays a large role in prevention strategies to improve health; research suggests it may
contribute to the delay of cognitive decline in older adults. Evidence is growing; having an active
lifestyle may sustain brain function later into life and delay cognitive decline – both age-related and
caused by dementia. Maintaining adequate strength and balance to perform activities of daily living is
also a purpose of active living. It is important to encourage movement, strengthening exercises, and
walking as a part of daily routine to maintain health, socialization, and prevent cognitive decline.
Active living activities will:
•
•
•
feature pedestrian-oriented and transit-oriented development for mixed-use within
municipalities to support older Minnesotans ability to access social services, food stores, and
health care.
work with cities to provide safe and convenient sidewalks and crosswalks in communities,
which encourage older Minnesotans to be active and participate in social activities.
emphasize safer and more comfortable opportunities for older Minnesotans to walk, bike,
and use transit allowing them to age in place within the community and live independently
further into their advancing years.
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Please keep in mind active living activities use the 5E approach: evaluation, engineering, education,
encouragement and enforcement. Please reference the Active Living Implementation Guide for
further guidance.
Purpose: Tobacco-free Living
According to the World Health Organization (2014), smoking and secondhand smoke exposure are
risk factors for dementia. It is estimated that approximately 14 percent of dementia cases are
potentially attributed to smoking (see Table 1 Lifestyle risk factors of dementia and their PAR). SHIP
activities falling under this strategy and focusing on dementia outcomes should focus on smoke-free
environment laws and systematic access to tobacco cessation services.
Tobacco-free living activities will:
•
•
expand the number of senior housing properties, nursing homes, and assisted living
complexes that offer smoke-free policies so seniors can enjoy tobacco-free living
environments and reduced exposure to secondhand smoke.
increase the number of clinics serving older Minnesotans who participate in Call It Quits
cessation treatment referral program, increasing the availability of services to older
Minnesotans who want to quit.
Purpose: Health Care
When working in the health care strategy, it is important to make clear that many common unhealthy
behaviors that lead to diabetes, hypertension, and obesity also increase the risk of dementia (see
Table 1: Lifestyle risk factors of dementia and their PAR). Addressing these behaviors will reduce the
likelihood of developing dementia.
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Hypertension
8.0%
Dementia
Obesity
Diabetes
7.3%
4.5%
Figure 5 Keystone diagnosis of dementia. PAR of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes account for 19.8% of dementia cases. Based on 2010
data and assuming independence, it is estimated that approximately 1.05 million cases in the USA can be accounted for my modifiable
risk factors. 3
Health care activities will:
•
•
support providers targeting Minnesotans for screening, counseling, and referral to evidencebased programs which assist them with learning lifestyle change skills, falls prevention, and
dementia programs
o Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance
o A Matter of Balance
o ACT on Alzheimer’s best practice tools (see http://www.actonalz.org/providerpractice-tools)
o I Can Prevent Diabetes/National Diabetes Prevention Program
o Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
focus SCRF activities on disparate populations, such as African Americans or those with Down
Syndrome, who are at greater risk for developing Alzheimer’s and related dementias
Purpose: Workplace
Workplace activities encouraging positive behaviors such as adequate physical activity, healthful
eating, tobacco-free environments, and lifestyle and/or stress management can also contribute to
3 Norton, S., Matthews, F., Barnes, D., Yaffe, K., & Brayne, C. (2014). Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer’s disease: an analysis
of population-based data. Lancet Nurology, 13(8), 788-794. dio:10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70136-X
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reducing the burden of dementia. The most direct pathway of relation is through the caregiver (See
Caregiver Support Activities and Support from Employers).
Workplace activities will:
•
•
•
create supportive workplace environments that provide access to healthy food choices, time
for senior employees and volunteers to be physically active, opportunities for employees to
use active transportation to get to and from work, cessation support, and social
support/stress management programs.
support employees who may be caregivers for someone with dementia (Alzheimer’s
Workplace Alliance).
promote workplace-friendly policies and practices for those in the workforce who are also
acting as long-term caregivers. This includes two possible scenarios:
o developing SHIP partnerships with long-term care facilities focusing on worksite
wellness policies for employees who provide care for dementia patients, and
o developing SHIP partnerships with employers employing individuals providing at-home
care for someone with dementia.
Health Equity Statement
Minority elderly populations often face severe barriers to social justice as it pertains to the screening,
diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. These barriers include structural
(location of residence in an inequitable area), economic, and clinical (health illiteracy) and result in
limited access to care. In addition to these barriers, cultural differences in interpretation and
normalization of disease versus normal aging cause a delay in seeking proper diagnosis and care.
Grantee activities shall address health disparities and inequity within Minnesota’s communities as it
relates to dementia outcomes.
For assistance in ensuring SHIP activities are equitable, please reference ACT on Alzheimer’s health
equity call to action (See Appendix C).
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Resources & References
ACT on Alzheimer’s
http://www.actonalz.org/
Amherst Wilder Foundation. (2012). Caregiving in Context. Retrieved from
http://www.wilder.org/WilderResearch/Publications/Studies/Caregiving%20in%20Context/Caregiving%20in%20Context,%20Summ
ary.pdf
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). A sustainability planning guide for healthy
communities. Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/programs/healthycommunitiesprogram/pdf/sustainability_guide.
pdf
Communities for a Lifetime – Housed within the MBA and DHS, Communities for a Lifetime offers
resources on principles and strategies which, when implemented, foster health and vitality for
residents and the community as a whole.
http://www.mnlifetimecommunities.org/en.aspx
Dementia Friendly America
www.dfamerica.org
Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging
http://mn4a.org/partners/evidence-based-programs/
National Institute on Aging: Healthy Eating after 50;
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/healthy-eating-after-50
A Matter of Balance falls prevention program. A Matter of Balance is program that has been
designed to reduce the risk and fear of falling and help older adults stay independent. The program
includes eight two-hour sessions for a small group led by a trained facilitator.
http://www.mainehealth.org/mob
During the class participants learn to:
•
•
•
•
View falls as controllable.
Set goals for increasing activity.
Make changes to reduce fall risk at home.
Exercise to increase strength and balance.
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Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance. Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance has been designed for
older adults and people with balance disorders. The program consists of 8-form core routine with
built in exercise variations and a subroutine of integrated therapeutic movements, which collectively,
comprise a set of simple yet functional Tai Ji Quan-based moves. The program is delivered in two 1hour sessions each week for 24 weeks. Each session consists of warm-up exercises; core practices,
which include a mix of practice forms, variations of forms and mini-theraputic movements; and brief
cool-down exercises. The class is taught by a trained instructor.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2015). Dementia, disability and frailty in later life –
mid-life approaches to delay or prevent onset. NICE guidelines [NG16]. Retrieved from
http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng16
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Appendix A – Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging Contact List
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Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
Catherine Sampson, Executive Director
Main: 218-722-5545
Toll Free: 1-800-232-0707
Fax: 218-529-7592
Serves: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties.
Central Minnesota Council on Aging
Lori Vrolson, Executive Director
Main: 320-253-9349
Fax: 320-253-9576
Serves: Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne,
Stearns, Todd, Wadena, and Wright counties.
Land of the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging
Darla Waldner, Executive Director
Main: 218-745-6733
Serves: Becker, Beltrami, Clay, Clearwater, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods,
Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Stevens,
Traverse andWilkin counties
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Area Agency on Aging
Main: 218-335-8586
Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging
Dawn Simonson, Executive Director
Main: 651-641-8612
Fax: 651-641-8618
Serves: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties.
Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging
Linda Giersdorf, Executive Director
Mankato Office
Main: 507-389-8879
Fax: 507-387-7105
Slayton Office
Main: 507-836-8547
Fax: 507-836-8866
Willmar Office
Main: 320-235-8504
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Serves: Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui
Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone,
Redwood, Renville, Rock, Sibley, Swift, Waseca, Watonwan, and Yellow Medicine counties.
Southeastern Minnesota Area Agency on Aging
Connie Bagley, Executive Director
Main: 507-288-6944
Fax: 507-288-4823
Serves: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and
Winona counties.
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Appendix B – ACTion Community Contacts
ACTION COMMUNITY TEAM CONTACT LIST
ACTION TEAM
Anoka
ACTION TEAM LEAD
ACT on Alzheimer’s Anoka
Chandra Knoof
[email protected]
Tom Berard
[email protected]
Steve Helseth
Becker
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s Becker
Tami Kolbinger
Bemidji
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s Bemidji
Carol Priest
Brainerd/Baxter
ACTION TEAM LEAD EMAIL
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s
Baxter/Brainerd
Amanda Mithun
Cambridge
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s Cambridge
Julie Tooker
Centro
[email protected]
Alzheimer’s Latino Collaborative
at Centro
Roxana Linares
rlinares@centromn.
org
Cloquet
ACT on Alzheimer’s, Cloquet
Jill Hatfield
[email protected]
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Detroit Lakes
ACT on Alzheimer’s, Detroit Lakes
Sandy Lia
Edina
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s Edina
Deborah Paone
[email protected]
Donna Tilsen
East Iron Range
[email protected]
East Iron Range ACT Collaboration
Laurie O’Laughlin
Forest Lake
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s Forest Lake
Jules Benson
Harmony
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s Harmony
Lori Slindee
International Falls
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s
Greater International Falls
Douglas Skrief
Mankato/North
Mankato
[email protected]
Mankato and North Mankato
ACT on Alzheimer’s
Danielle Walchuk, Region Nine
[email protected]
Development Commission
Marshall
ACT on Alzheimer’s Marshall
Jamie Lanners
[email protected]
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DEMENTIA GUIDE
Mille Lacs Area
ACT on Alzheimer’s
Re-Membering Matters
at Mille Lacs
Kathy Young
Minnesota Council
of Churches
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s
MN Council of Churches
Helen Jackson Lockett-El
North Branch
ACT on Alzheimer’s North Branch
Gina Lind
North Minneapolis
[email protected]
Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller ACT
Vanne Owens Hayes
[email protected]
Beverly Propes
Northfield
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s Northfield
Patricia Vincent
Paynesville
[email protected]
Paynesville ACT on Alzheimer’s
Linda Musel
Redwood Falls
[email protected]
Redwood Falls ACT on Alzheimer’s
Karen Christensen
Rochester
[email protected]
[email protected]
Downtown Rochester
ACT on Alzheimer’s
Angela Lunde
Roseville
[email protected]
Roseville ACT on Alzheimer’s
Deb Nygaard
St. Louis Park
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s St. Louis Park
Annette Sandler
[email protected]
24
DEMENTIA GUIDE
St. Paul African
American Faith
Community
ACT on Alzheimer’s
St. Paul African American
Faith Community
Vanne Owens Hayes
St. Paul
Neighborhoods
[email protected]
St. Paul Neighborhoods ACT
(SPN ACT)
Meghan Constantini
St. Paul North East
Neighborhoods
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s
St. Paul North East Neighborhoods
Rosemary Maranda Wallace
Sauk Rapids
Sauk Rapids ACT on Alzheimer’s
Melinda Fast
Stillwater Area
[email protected]
Stillwater Area ACT on Alzheimer’s
Beth Wiggins
Twin Cities Jewish
Community
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s
Twin Cities Jewish Community
Annette Sandler
Walker
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s, Walker
Ann Noland
Willmar
[email protected]
[email protected]
ACT on Alzheimer’s Willmar Area
Andrea Carruthers
[email protected]
Bonita Kallestad
[email protected]
25
DEMENTIA GUIDE
Appendix C – Health Equity Call to Action
26