Design, implement, and diffuse scalable and sustainable solutions for dementia care

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Human-Centered Design

Background:

• Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) pose significant burdens.
• Current innovations struggle with implementation, diffusion, and scalability.
• Suboptimal care and harm result from these implementation challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify factors limiting the implementation and diffusion of evidence-based ADRD interventions.
• Highlight the need for improved strategies to scale and sustain ADRD care services.
• Emphasize the importance of human-centered design in addressing ADRD care.

Main Methods:

• Expert identification of key barriers to implementation and diffusion.
• Analysis of factors affecting the adoption of ADRD interventions.
• Review of existing evidence on scalability and sustainability.

Main Results:

• Four primary factors hinder ADRD innovation adoption: limited market demand, insufficient stakeholder engagement, lack of scalability evidence, and contextual transfer difficulties.
• These barriers result in suboptimal care for individuals with ADRD and their caregivers.

Conclusions:

• New investments in human-centered design, implementation science, and diffusion science are essential.
• These investments are critical for achieving the goals of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.
• Addressing the identified factors will improve the delivery of effective ADRD services.