Today, more than 24,00 Rhode Islanders over the age of 65 are living with some form of dementia. That’s one in eight older adults. The BOLD Act, signed into law in 2018, positioned Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as a public health issue, not just a private family struggle. It provided states like Rhode Island with funding for prevention, early detection, workforce training and caregiver support.
The Bold Act recognized what caregivers already know: dementia is bigger than any one family. It requires a shared responsibility across our communities. One critical area where we can collectively share responsibility is in confronting ageism. From doctors to dentists, family and friends, the stigma of ageism runs deep and knows no boundaries. For those with dementia, this stigma delays diagnosis, blocks access to resources, and weighs heavily on caregivers and those living with the disease.
Laurie Gunter Mantz founded Dementia Training for Life from a deeply personal place. Her father and other family members struggled with dementia – her father never received a clear diagnosis, and she witnessed first hand how many doctors and nurses didn’t understand how to care for someone with memory loss. Recognizing the gap, and motivated to do something about it, she made it her mission to become an educator.
A licensed occupational therapist who later became an executive director of an assisted living and memory care community, Mantz brings both a personal and medical lens to dementia care. When you meet her, you immediately feel her energy, passion, and drive to make a difference.
“I come to this work with a lot of medical background and training,” Mantz explains. “That lets me tap into the science of dementia care – how it affects people physically and psychologically — but also how to train others in truly person-centered care. The key to success is treating each individual as an individual and understanding what is important to them.”
She also points to new research that is changing the field:
“We’re learning that lifestyle changes can help our brains age better, and we now even have medications that can change the course of disease. At a recent Alzheimer’s Association conference, they presented data on IV treatments that remove amyloid plaque from the brain. Clinical trials are happening right now — but if doctors aren’t trained, they may not even know how to connect families to these opportunities. We need to make sure the right information reaches families, caregivers, and doctors alike.”
Mantz has been an outspoken advocate for confronting ageism and dismantling the stigma that surrounds dementia. She has been tireless in her support for training. “If I had a magic wand, I would put training and education in place statewide, at every level without having to worry about funding,” she said. “When I served as a contributor to the Rhode Island Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders State Plan (2024-2024), I pushed for Rhode Island primary care physicians to be required to receive dementia training. What we got was just one hour of training — it’s not nearly enough.”
Her frustration with limited training reflects a broader challenge in Rhode Island: making sure every resident, regardless of where they live, has access to quality care. That concern was echoed powerfully last week at the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI) annual conference where nearly 400 concerned citizens, advocates, professionals, and state officials came together. As the keynote speaker Dr. Ed Iannuccilli reminded us, “access to quality care is what people want. We want someone who listens and helps us navigate.” This goes beyond a chatbot in a health portal. “You are not a consumer, you are a patient — and that means one who suffers. AI will continue to get better but it will never replace personal care, nothing will.”
Dr Iannuccilli’s reminder that “nothing replaces personal care” is exactly why training matters. Quality care depends on people — doctors, nurses, aides and family caregivers — who understand dementia and know how to respond with skill and compassion. That doesn’t happen by accident. It takes investment in training, the very area that too often is the first cut when budgets are slashed. When training is underfunded, when patients are treated like customers instead of people, care suffers — and so do Rhode Islanders of every community regardless of ZIP code, or lack of one.
Mantz sees the consequences of those cuts clearly. “The problem is, we don’t view training as an investment, she says. When staff are under-educated and under-trained, there’s a greater risk for injury, lawsuits, and turnover — all of which drive up costs and erode trust. Training may not sound urgent, but it’s the thread that holds the system together.”
When we dismiss memory loss as just “old age,”or assume families must carry the burden alone, we dehumanize the most vulnerable among us, and in turn, ourselves. “Access to quality care” isn’t just about budgets and programs; it’s about dignity and shared responsibility. When we underfund training, treat patients like customers or allow the stigma of ageism to go unchecked, the consequences ripple through every community. That’s why we need advocates, organizations and everyday citizens who refuse to accept dehumanization in care, and who will come together to protect the supports that make quality care possible for all.
Your voice doesn’t have to stand alone. Organizations like SACRI and leaders like Laurie Gunter Mantz of Dementia Training for Life help amplify our voices and turn our concerns into collective action. In a community built on shared responsibility, one voice matters. When care is reduced to a customer transaction, that responsibility, and the dignity behind it, is lost.
Helen Hames is an Aging Advisor and Founder of Age Ambassador, where she helps older adults and their families navigate the complex and emotional decisions that come with aging. Her work centers on helping people identify what matters most, whether planning to age at home or exploring senior living options. Helen was honored with the 2025 Senior Champion of the Year Award for her advocacy and personalized guidance that supports older adults in living fully through every season of life.