In 2008, the Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force through the enactment of Senate Concurrent Resolution 80 to study the impact of Alzheimer's within the state and make recommendations to meet the growing issues presented by the disease. The Task Force included representatives from state agencies, care associations, long-term care providers, and community organizations as well as caregivers, state legislators, and individuals directly impacted by the disease. The Task Force presented their final report, The Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease in Louisiana: A Report by the Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force, to the Louisiana Legislature and Governor's Office in October 2009. Following receipt of a federal BOLD grant, Well-Ahead Louisiana, a chronic disease prevention and health care access initiative of the Louisiana Department of Health, published an update to the state plan for 2023-2028. The state plan encompasses four issue areas, each containing specific goals aimed at tackling the challenges posed by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

Support Caregivers by Sustaining the Dementia Care Specialist Program 

Navigating the complex network of resources and benefits is a daunting task for families affected by Alzheimer’s. In 2025, Louisiana took a major step forward by establishing a Statewide Dementia Care Specialist Program to bring expert support directly to local communities. To maintain this momentum, the Alzheimer’s Association is urging state legislators to appropriate $824,000 annually to sustain the program. These specialists provide essential services — including caregiver support, community education and health system partnerships — that must be preserved to meet the growing need.