ProgramsESTEEM Graduate Program Capstone (June 2026-May 2027)ProjectsTesting the Adoption Case for Comprehensive Dementia Care: Market D...

Project Title: Testing the Adoption Case for Comprehensive Dementia Care: Market Discovery, Financial Modeling, and Health System Adoption Strategy

The Milken Institute

Details
Project Title Testing the Adoption Case for Comprehensive Dementia Care: Market Discovery, Financial Modeling, and Health System Adoption Strategy
Project Topics Corporate Social Responsibility Data Management Growth Strategy International Affairs Political Organization, Policy Change, and Advocacy Public Administration Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis Research, Analysis, Evaluation Training & Development
Skills & Expertise AI-Assisted Research Tools Cost-Benefit Analysis Data Visualization Dementia Care Research Excel Executive Presentation Development Financial Modeling Health Systems Research Healthcare Economics Healthcare Market Sizing Impact Measurement Interview Protocol Development Literature Review Market Research Medicare Advantage Analysis Policy Analysis PowerPoint Qualitative Research Quantitative Analysis Stakeholder Interviews Strategic Planning Survey Design Systems Thinking Value-Based Care Research
Project Synopsis: Challenge/Opportunity
The United States is facing a rapidly growing dementia crisis. More than 7 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia (ADRD), and that number is expected to nearly double by 2060. Recent innovations—including blood-based biomarkers, disease-modifying therapies, prevention strategies, and the CMS GUIDE Model—have created unprecedented opportunities to improve brain health outcomes and transform dementia care delivery. Despite these advances, adoption of comprehensive dementia care programs remains inconsistent across health systems and health plans. 

The Milken Institute’s Alliance to Improve Dementia Care has developed foundational tools, partnerships, and research to support the implementation of comprehensive dementia care. However, a critical question remains unresolved: Will health systems, health plans, and other stakeholders actually adopt and fund comprehensive dementia care programs at scale? 

While many organizations express interest in dementia care innovation, there is limited evidence demonstrating what factors drive real adoption decisions, budget commitments, workflow changes, and long-term investment. Health systems often struggle to quantify the financial value of dementia programs, while Medicare Advantage plans lack clear frameworks for evaluating cognitive health investments. Additionally, philanthropic organizations and investors lack standardized approaches for determining where capital can accelerate sustainable adoption. 

This project will help the Milken Institute test the real-world market demand for comprehensive dementia care by conducting stakeholder discovery, evaluating adoption barriers, expanding existing financial modeling tools, and developing evidence-based recommendations for future scaling. Students will engage directly with health system leaders, payers, policy stakeholders, advocacy organizations, and industry experts to identify the conditions necessary for widespread adoption and sustainable financing of comprehensive dementia care models.
Project Synopsis: Activities/Actions Required
  1. Conduct a landscape assessment of the dementia care ecosystem, including emerging clinical innovations, payment models, workforce trends, and policy developments. 
  2.  Evaluate existing evidence surrounding comprehensive dementia care programs, including the CMS GUIDE Model, and identify gaps that limit adoption and investment. 
  3.  Support stakeholder discovery efforts through research, interview preparation, synthesis of findings, and analysis of adoption barriers and incentives. 
  4.  Analyze health system, payer, and investor perspectives regarding comprehensive dementia care implementation and financing. 
  5.  Contribute to the refinement and expansion of the Alliance's Dementia Care Financial Model by identifying additional economic variables, payer incentives, and value-based care considerations. 
  6.  Assess sustainable financing pathways including fee-for-service reimbursement, value-based care arrangements, philanthropy, venture investment, and public-private partnerships. 
  7.  Develop recommendations regarding market readiness, adoption strategies, and policy opportunities that could accelerate implementation across health systems and health plans. 
  8.  Support the development of a publishable report and strategic recommendations that can inform future Alliance initiatives and broader dementia care transformation efforts.
Project Synopsis: Expected Results
Success will be measured through the development of actionable research, financial, and strategic insights that help the Milken Institute better understand the adoption potential of comprehensive dementia care programs. 

Specifically, successful outcomes include: 
  •  Completion of a comprehensive assessment of the current dementia care landscape and adoption ecosystem. 
  •  Identification of key adoption drivers and barriers across health systems, Medicare Advantage plans, and other stakeholders. 
  •  Meaningful contributions to Version 2 of the Dementia Care Financial Model. 
  •  Completion and synthesis of stakeholder discovery findings from health system leaders, payers, investors, and advocacy organizations. 
  •  Development of evidence-based recommendations regarding sustainable financing and scaling strategies. 
  •  Creation of strategic insights that can directly inform future Milken Institute publications, presentations, and Alliance initiatives. 
  •  Delivery of a final report and presentation that provides a clear recommendation regarding the market readiness and future adoption potential of comprehensive dementia care programs.

Project Timeline

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Program Managers

Name Organization
Neil Kane University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

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