Boston Public Health Commission BOLD Project - The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC, the city’s health department) in partnership with the Boston Age Strong Commission (the city’s Council on Aging and Area Agency on Aging) and an outstanding group of project partners propose a BOLD project to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in Boston. We are applying for the Core Capacity Award. The purpose of the Boston BOLD project is to bring together a multi-disciplinary team of stakeholders—including public health, the local office on aging, the state Alzheimer’s organization, clinical experts, caregivers, the local housing authority and other community partners—to more effectively address primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of dementia in Boston. Through this project, we will: mobilize key partners, establish a citywide advisory committee, conduct a needs assessment, create an ADRD strategic plan, and conduct systems, environmental, policy and education activities to promote dementia risk reduction, early diagnosis, caregiving, and the prevention and management of comorbidities and avoidable hospitalizations. In addition, the project will specifically identify and address potential challenges to project activities and goals arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Key project objectives are: Objective 1. Citywide Advisory Committee: By month 1, mobilize a minimum of seven key partners to establish a multidisciplinary citywide Advisory Committee that will oversee the project’s needs assessment, strategic planning process and implementation activities. Objective 2. Needs assessment and strategic plan: By month 9-12, engaging the Advisory Committee and a wide range of stakeholders, complete a local needs assessment and develop a strategic plan encompassing dementia risk reduction, early diagnosis of ADTD and the prevention and treatment of comorbidities and avoidable hospitalizations. (This objective is intended to support Action P-1—promoting the use of effective interventions and best practices—and Action M-3—using data to inform the public health program and policy response to brain health, cognitive impairment and caregiving.) Objective 3. Implementation actions: Implement a minimum of three actions over the project period: (1) promote integration of brain health risk reduction into existing health communication, (2) improve knowledge by healthcare professionals about the best available evidence on dementia, Caregiving for persons with dementia, and tools and supports available education, and (3) provide continuing education to improve healthcare professional’s knowledge.
