Journal of Aging and Health, Ahead of Print.
ObjectivesTo investigate the availability of Alzheimer’s Centers (ACs) in US hospitals.MethodsUtilizing the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, Area Health Resource File, and US Census (n = 3251), we employed multivariable logistic regression to examine hospital, county, and regional predictors of AC availability.ResultsLarge hospitals (>399 beds) had approximately 14 times higher odds of having an AC than small hospitals (<50 beds; OR = 14.0; 95% CI = 6.44 – 30.46). Counties with a higher proportion of Latino residents, relative to non-Latino Whites, had lower odds of having an AC (OR = .05; 95% CI = .01 – .41). Northeastern (OR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.15 – 3.22) and Midwestern (OR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.34 – 3.37) hospitals had higher odds of having an AC than Southern hospitals.DiscussionTo address dementia needs and disparities, investment in a national infrastructure is critical.