Star Tribune Editorial Calls for Awakenings Funding and Expansion Nationwide

A Star Tribune lead editorial on April 5, 2014, said Ecumen Awakenings dementia care program is “effective and compassionate” and “should become the standard of care across the nation as baby boomers swell senior ranks.”

The Star Tribune cited the Leading Age Excellence in Dementia Care Award given last month to Awakenings, which is a pioneering approach to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias without the use of highly sedating psychotropic drugs.

Noting that less than 2 percent of private philanthropic dollars in Minnesota go to programs for seniors, the Star Tribune editorial urged private foundations to acknowledge the coming age tsunami and help fund expansion of the Awakenings care model nationally.