AFTD Ambassador Dr. Gerald Lazarus wrote a guest editorial for the North Carolina-based newspaper The News & Observer advocating for local politicians to support a proposed legislative measure that aims to improve the current dementia care management system.

Dr. Lazarus’ editorial references The Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act. The legislation seeks to “fund a government study to analyze whether a coordinated dementia care model is effective, humane, and saves money,” Dr. Lazarus (pictured above) wrote in the Feb. 16 editorial.

“My wife has [FTD], is incontinent, does not speak, takes two hours to eat, and has difficulty walking. Previously, she was the vice president of a major pharmaceutical company. I know she will deteriorate further, and my heart is breaking,” he said.

The measure, if passed, would allow for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a dementia care management model that would provide comprehensive care to Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Dr. Lazarus shared that it’s important to assist persons diagnosed with dementia and their care partners/care givers in addressing their challenges “by developing and fully funding an infrastructure that helps them.”

Read Dr. Gerald Lazarus’ editorial in The News & Observer here.