2025 Letter to healthcare professionals

Dear provider, 

We are reaching out with important dementia resources for you, your office, your patients, and their caregivers/families. 

Utah is estimated to have almost 40,000 residents living with Alzheimer's disease (10% of our older adults), which is believed to be significantly underdiagnosed for a multitude of reasons. Diagnosing patients early can help them plan for the future and live their best lives possible. Connecting patients and their families to resources is vital to guide and support them as they move forward. Below you will find: 

  • Tools to make early and accurate diagnoses
  • Billing codes to increase your revenue
  • Necessary resources for your patients and their caregivers.

Provider resources

  • Provider’s guide to managing dementia: Includes discussion topics for diagnosis and billing codes to help increase your revenue. 
  • Early Detection of Dementia-Health System Provider Toolkit: provided by BOLD Center for Early Detection of Dementia and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Free Continuing Medical Education credits (CME): provided by the Alzheimer’s Association, Rush University (dementia, FTD), and PriMed
  • If you have questions on diagnosis, medications or treatment options, the University of Utah offers their CALL-UP program through Huntsman Mental Health Institute. Call 801-587-3636 or visit their website for more information and to schedule a consultation. 
  • A list of professional resources available can also be found on the ALZPro website.
  • The GSA KAER Toolkit provides practical approaches, educational resources, and validated clinical tools to help primary care teams implement the KAER framework as part of their efforts to support brain health and timely detection of and responses to cognitive impairment.
  • Your local Area Agency on Aging can provide you with resources in your area and help connect patients and their families to supportive services which could include respite, support groups, education, and more. Visit daas.utah.gov/locations for local contact information.
  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched their Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model on July 1, 2025. This program follows a person from dementia diagnosis until they are in hospice, skilled nursing or have died. There are 4 Utah-based providers and many providers from out of state offering the program in-person and via telehealth. GUIDE not only offers services for the patient with dementia, but also respite services for their caregiver. We have created an info sheet for professionals that can be found here. This flyer is not for patients as it may be confusing.

Patients/caregiver resources

  • Dementia caregiving tips and resources (one-page print out)
  • Dementia.utah.gov has resources for people living with dementia, caregivers and professionals.
  • University of Utah and Utah State University provide free care consultations for people affected by dementia and their families. Your patients can meet with a social worker, dementia educator, or interprofessional clinical team (in-person or virtually), discuss their needs, make a plan and get connected to resources. Your office can coordinate with these teams as an extension of the care you provide. 
  • Statewide Area Agencies on Aging provide many services and can connect your patients and their families with local resources. Visit daas.utah.gov/locations and click on your patient’s county to access contact information.
  • Dementia Action Alliance provides many online resources including their publication: Pathways to Well-Being with Dementia: Manual of Help, Hope and Inspiration.
  • The Dementia Engagement, Education, and Research Program (DEER) at the University of Nevada, Reno has published the Dementia Self-Management Guidebook written by people with dementia.
  • Lorenzo’s House is a virtual organization offering free programming to youth and their families navigating diagnoses of younger-onset dementias.
  • Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 helpline (assists with all dementias): 1-800-272-3900 — A live person can provide information, local resources, crisis assistance and emotional support. 

Utah State University is the proud home of our Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research Center. We encourage your patients and their caregivers to explore and engage in dementia research happening around the state. For the most up-to-date information please visit https://cehs.usu.edu/adrc/research/registry. 

We are always here to help answer any questions or help guide your patients and caregivers through their dementia journey. Please feel free to use our website, dementia.utah.gov or reach out to me at any time by emailing [email protected] or  calling/texting 385-266-1733. 

Sincerely, 

Kristy Russell, MHL, CHES

Utah Department of Health and Human Services

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program