Social & Public Policy of Alzheimer's Disease in the United States

This book focuses on the public policy and political dimensions of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias (AD/D) in the United States, with coverage of the global dimensions and relevant examples from other countries. Starting off with a discussion on the characteristics of AD/D and competing theories of their causes, their human and financial costs, and the increasing burden they place on all societies as populations age, the book examines in detail the range of policy issues they raise. These include funding policies, payment policy and regulatory functions, long-term services and support (LTCS), public health and prevention policies. The book analyses the big business surrounding AD/D and shows that the strong public fear of developing dementia heightens the likelihood of exploitation of vulnerable people looking for a technological fix. It examines both informal and formal caregivers and the heavy burden placed on families, primarily women, and recent policy attempts to strengthen LTCS. It also examines the latest evidence of potential risk-reduction and prevention strategies and the difficult issues surrounding advance directives, assisted suicide, and definitions of death that increasingly face policy makers. It concludes by analyzing the policy implications on possible technological scenarios. Robert H. Blank, PhD, (University of Maryland) is an adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, and a research scholar at New College Florida. He has been a frequent guest professor at Aarhus University in Denmark and at National Taiwan University in Taipei, Taiwan.-- Provided by publisher This book focuses on the public policy and political dimensions of Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias (AD/D) in the United States, with coverage of the global dimensions and relevant examples from other countries. Starting off with a discussion on the characteristics of AD/D and competing theories of their causes, their human and financial costs, and the increasing burden they place on all societies as populations age, the book examines in detail the range of policy issues they raise. These include funding policies, payment policy and regulatory functions, long-term services and support (LTCS), public health and prevention policies. The book analyses the big business surrounding AD/D and shows that the strong public fear of developing dementia heightens the likelihood of exploitation of vulnerable people looking for a technological fix. It examines both informal and formal caregivers and the heavy burden placed on families, primarily women, and recent policy attempts to strengthen LTCS. It also examines the latest evidence of potential riskreduction and prevention strategies and the difficult issues surrounding advance directives, assisted suicide, and definitions of death that increasingly face policy makers. It concludes by analyzing the policy implications on possible technological scenarios--back cover Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias: An Introduction (Robert H. Blank)....Pages 1-26 Public Policy Context: Funding and Policy Initiatives (Robert H. Blank)....Pages 27-44 The Alzheimer’s Marketplace (Robert H. Blank)....Pages 45-73 Caregivers, Long-Term Care, and Social Health (Robert H. Blank)....Pages 75-99 Public Health Approaches to Alzheimer’s Disease (Robert H. Blank)....Pages 101-119 End-of-Life Decision Making for Alzheimer’s Disease Across Cultures (Robert H. Blank)....Pages 121-136 Alzheimer’s Policy: Future Directions (Robert H. Blank)....Pages 137-146 Back Matter ....Pages 147-171