The Illinois Department of Public Health is looking for public comment as it completes the state’s next three-year Alzheimer’s disease plan. The department, Alzheimer’s Association and State Senator Dave Koehler held a town hall meeting in Peoria.
Participants were able to give feedback on programs and services the state offers for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. They also discussed what’s needed to help improve the quality of life for those with the disease.
Rhonda Clancy is the Alzheimer’s Program Coordinator for the Department of Public Health. She says it’s important to have a comprehensive plan to deal with the disease as the state’s Alzheimer’s population is expected to grow 14-percent by 2025.
“I think just those few statistics alone really show how we really need to be addressing more with the baby boomers and folks. And it’s not just a disease that attacks people over 60. There’s a lot of people under 60 that are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, so I think those statistics to me are frightening. You know, they’re kind of scary and we need to look at what we can do to take care of folks that are coming our way.”
Clancy says this is the first time public comment will be part of the three year plan. The Illinois Department of Public Health is expected to complete it by the end of the year.