Central Minnesota Dementia Community Action Network

D-CAN, through operation of our Central Minnesota Dementia Resource Center Clinic (DRCC), made significant progress toward accomplishing many of the goals set forth in our original strategic plan. We provided DRCC dementia diagnostic/management or preventive services to over 100 clients and their approximately 200 caregivers due to referrals from physicians, nurse practitioners, physician associates, social workers, counselors, public health agencies and other DRCC former clients. We provided two major public dementia educational events (Spring Dementia Summit, Fall Caregivers' Conference), 12-15 smaller group public educational presentations, radio broadcasts, online website education and support via our website. We collaborated with several state and local agencies with similar dementia-related missions (ours is "improving access to quality dementia care in our community") to forge progress toward improving quality of life for persons living with dementia and their caregivers and loved ones. These include Minnesota Board on Aging, Central MN Council on Aging, Whitney Senior Center, long term care directors, public health officials, State grant-making officers, state legislators, representatives from Congress persons, many persons living with dementia and their advocates, local health system CEO and various departments (who donate our office space) among others. We secured substantial MBA grants and some donations and initiated insurance/Medicare billing for our services. Since all but one of Minnesota's 11 previous dementia clinics have failed for financial reasons, we have made planning for sustainability a major part of our strategic planning during 2022. Our survey of 144 DRCC clients at the end of 2022 returned 44 responses. All but one of the survey respondents gave us 5/5 for every one of our satisfaction questions.