Kentucky State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
The Kentucky Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Council was established through legislation enacted in 2000. In 2007, the Commonwealth of Kentucky enacted Senate Joint Resolution 6, which directed the Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Council to create a comprehensive strategy to respond to the growing Alzheimer's crisis. Appointed by the governor, the Council includes representatives from state agencies, local health departments, academia, and the medical research community as well as consumers and caregivers. The Council formed a wider work group to research and draft the State Plan. In January 2008, the Council published Setting a Roadmap to Address Alzheimer's in the Commonwealth: A Report of the Current and Anticipated Future Impact of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias on Kentuckians with Recommendations for Action. This plan was updated in 2017 and includes updated and new recommendations for combating Alzheimer's and dementia in Kentucky.
Kentucky 2024 Policy Priorities
Ensure Kentucky has a Dementia-Capable Workforce
People living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia have unique needs that often make care delivery and communication more challenging. Dementia training of those involved in the delivery of care can improve the quality of care and experiences for Kentuckians living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia. To ensure Kentucky’s workforce is dementia-capable, the Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to support legislation mandating one hour of dementia training every three years on early detection and diagnosis as part of physician licensure renewal. Ensuring physicians are knowledgeable on Alzheimer’s and other dementia will help mitigate the impact caused by the lack of geriatricians in the state.
Secure Funding for the Office of Dementia Services
Following tremendous advocacy in 2021, the Office of Dementia Services was established along with a full-time Dementia Coordinator position to manage the work of the statewide Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Council and to support the development and implementation of the state Alzheimer’s plan. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to support funding for the Office of Dementia Services and the Dementia Coordinator position. This funding will secure the future of the Office and Coordinator position, ensuring Kentucky continues to make dementia a priority.
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Find My Chapter
Together, we’re making an impact. Find an Alzheimer’s Association chapter in your community for more ways to engage.
Contact Us
State Affairs Contact: Mackenzie Wallace, J.D.
Phone: 502.473.5344
Email: [email protected]
80,500
people living with Alzheimer’s in Kentucky
157,000
Kentuckians are providing unpaid care
$803 Million
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
1,632
deaths from Alzheimer’s in 2021
15%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
430.8%
increase of geriatricians in Kentucky needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in Kentucky
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 Kentucky policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.