In 2012, the Idaho Legislature established the Idaho Alzheimer’s Planning Group through passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 112. Tasked with determining how the state could best assist individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, the Planning Group included representatives from state agencies, advocacy agencies, academia, and community organizations as well as researchers, caregivers, individuals affected by Alzheimer's, and the governor. After conducting a year-long state assessment and soliciting input from community stakeholders and the public-at-large, A State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Addressing the Needs of Idahoans with ADRD, Their Caregivers, and Family Members was released. The Idaho legislature endorsed the statewide plan with the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 34 in 2013. In 2021, a statewide ADRD Alliance was formed to revise the state Alzheimer’s plan. In March 2023 following a 13 month development period, the 2023-2028 ADRD Strategic Plan for Idaho was published. The updated plan identifies gaps between the needs of people living with dementia and services available and details short and long-term goals for the next five years. To ensure the next state Alzheimer’s plan reflects best practices and the current needs of residents in the state, SB 1096 (Chapter 151 of 2023) was enacted, requiring the Department of Health and Welfare to convene the ADRD Alliance every five years to update the state Alzheimer’s plan.

Incorporate Dementia in Public Health Campaigns 

Idaho is home to nearly 30,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s and 65,000 unpaid caregivers. As the population with dementia grows, a robust public health response is needed to mitigate the future impact. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging the Department of Health and Welfare to integrate Alzheimer’s and other dementia into existing public health campaigns to highlight risk reduction strategies and promote early detection and diagnosis.

Include Dementia in the Statewide Health Assessment 

For Idahoans living with Alzheimer’s, developing and implementing a timely and effective state response to this disease is critical. The Idaho Statewide Health Assessment, Get Healthy Idaho, works to understand the health of Idaho residents and address issue areas identified through the assessment. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state officials to include the needs of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers in the Statewide Health Assessment. This update would increase attention and action on early diagnosis of dementia and ensure Idahoans have equitable access to information and resources that can improve their quality of life.