Minnesota Alzheimer's Disease Working Group
Omnibus Bill 1760 passed in May 2009 and required that the Minnesota Board on Aging convene the creation of the Alzheimer's Disease Working Group. The Alzheimer's Disease Working Group will examine the services available to meet the needs of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and the capacity of the state and current providers to meet those and future needs. The Alzheimer's Association initiated this legislative effort to address a range of issues including quality of long-term care, availability of diagnostic services and the identification of services and supports for people at all stages of the disease. The group will examine the array of needs of individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, services available to meet those needs and the capacity of the state and current providers to meet these and future needs. Teams of experts selected for their professional expertise and unique qualifications will provide findings and make recommendations to the working group. These conclusions will lead to a final report to be provided to Governor Pawlenty and legislative leaders by January 2011. The report will also include draft legislation necessary to implement the findings and recommendations.
Named to serve on the group are:
Terry Barclay, PhD, Neuropsychologist, Health Partners
Mary Birchard, Executive Director, Alzheimer's Association MN-ND
Jayne Clairmont, Member, MN Board on Aging
Patricia Cullen, President and CEO, Care Providers of MN
Michael Demmer, President and CEO, Prairie Senior Cottages
Charles Denny, Chair, Caregiver, Community Member
Michael Donohue, Retired, Community Member
Jayne Hager Dee, Vice Chair, MN Board on Aging
Kathleen Harrington, Chair, MN Board on Aging
Robert Held, Director, Nursing Facility Rates and Policy Division MN Department of Human Services
Deb Holtz, Ombudsman for Long Term Care, MN Board on Aging
Neil Johnson, Executive Director, MN Homecare Association
William Keigan, Retired, Community Member
Mary Manning, Director, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease MN Department of Health
Anne Murray, MD, Geriatrician, Hennepin County Medical Center
Ronald Petersen, MD, PhD, Neurologist and Director, Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Mayo Clinic
Catherine Sampson, Director, Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
George Schoephoerster, MD, Family Physician, Geriatric Services of MN
Carol Shapiro, Caregiver, Community Member
John Thomas, MD, Medical Director, Red River Valley Hospice Governor Tim Pawlenty