Georgia State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In 2013, the Georgia General Assembly established the Georgia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force through passage of Senate Bill 14 to research the impact of the disease and develop a strategy to mobilize the state response to the growing public health threat posed by Alzheimer’s. The Task Force included representatives from state agencies, local health departments, research institutes, law enforcement, care provider associations, elder law, and community organizations as well as state legislators, caregivers, community members, and individuals directly impacted by Alzheimer’s. Building upon previous work completed by the Georgia Division of Aging Services, the Task Force solicited public input and drafted the Georgia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias State Plan. The plan was published in June 2014.
Building off of the State Plan released in 2014, the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (GARD) Council released an update to the GARD State Plan in 2020. The updated State Plan contains goals for the state to provide necessary services and programs for Georgians affected by dementia and cognitive decline. Among the goals include strengthening research and data; enhancing efforts to develop a dementia-capable workforce; and improving service delivery for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Georgia 2024 Policy Priorities
Increase Respite Funding for Dementia Caregivers
Georgia is home to over 188,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s and another 374,000 caregivers. These caregivers are providing unpaid care, often enabling their loved ones living with dementia to live in the community instead of moving into more costly residential long-term care. Current state funding for respite care is inadequate to meet the existing needs of caregivers for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia, and this shortfall will only grow as the population with dementia continues to increase in Georgia. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to increase funding by $1 million for dementia-specific respite care in Georgia to ensure family caregivers have the support they need.
Increase Medicaid Services for Assisted Living and Memory Care Residents
The costs of health care and long-term care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia are significant, with dementia being one of the costliest conditions to society. Most people living with Alzheimer’s will ultimately need support from Medicaid, and Georgia residents who reside in assisted living communities and memory care facilities are not currently eligible for Medicaid. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state policymakers to support House Bill 582, allowing Medicaid to provide services for residents of assisted living communities and memory care facilities.
Establish a Statewide Elder Justice Coalition
Too often, individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia can become the victims of elder abuse. In some instances, they may be unaware they are victims and may not know how to or be able to report their abuse. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to support legislation that would establish a statewide Elder Justice Coalition to better support victims of elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. Members of the Coalition will consist of victim service providers and allied professionals who will receive mandatory dementia-specific training.
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188,300
people living with Alzheimer’s in Georgia
374,000
Georgians are providing unpaid care
$1.3 Billion
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
254.5%
increase in Alzheimer’s deaths 2000-2021
21%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
392.0%
increase of geriatricians in Georgia needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in Georgia
The following resources developed by AIM and the Alzheimer’s Association will help you learn more about the issues impacting people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, how Georgia policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.