Michigan State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In 2003, the Michigan Dementia Plan Steering Committee released the state’s first Dementia Plan in partnership with the Department of Community Health. The Committee, which was composed of state agency, academic and advocacy organizations, and health care providers gathered significant stakeholder feedback to issue recommendations around public health, dementia training, caregiver support and access to home- and community-based services (HCBS). The Michigan Dementia Coalition — a collaborative group of community agencies, universities, dementia caregivers, and state government officials concerned about dementia and related conditions — led the development of the Michigan Dementia Plan Update: 2009-2011 and the 2019-2022 Roadmap for Creating a Dementia Capable Michigan. The recent Roadmap calls for increased access to HCBS, support for caregivers and an increase in the number of geriatricians practicing in the state.
Michigan 2025 Policy Priorities
Empowering First Responders with Dementia Training
First responders, such as law enforcement officers, emergency medical services (EMS) workers and firefighters, often interact with people living with dementia while intervening in crisis or disaster situations. Individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia may present as uncooperative when they have difficulty communicating and understanding what is happening, and first responders may not know how to interact with individuals in these situations. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation requiring annual dementia training for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
Increasing Funding for the Dementia Unit
Following tremendous advocacy in 2022, state lawmakers allocated $400,000 in funding to make Michigan's Dementia Unit operational within the Department of Health and Human Services. The Dementia Unit is responsible for coordinating the state’s response to dementia across state government. To ensure the Dementia Unit can continue these efforts and expand services that support people living with dementia and their caregivers, the Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to increase state funding for the Dementia Unit by $2 million annually.
Establish a Statewide Alzheimer’s Public Awareness Campaign
With a rapidly growing population with dementia, robust public awareness campaigns are needed to raise awareness and mitigate the impact of the disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to appropriate $300,000 to establish a public awareness campaign targeting underserved urban and rural populations, where the Alzheimer’s prevalence rate is often higher than the state average.
Michigan State Advocacy Day
Join advocates on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at the state capitol for Michigan State Advocacy Day! Advocates will have the opportunity to share their stories with state legislators and urge their support for policy solutions that address the needs of Michiganders living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia and their families. Attendees will also receive an update from the state's Healthy Brain and Dementia Unit. Don’t miss this chance to make a difference!
Sign Up to Learn About Advocacy Opportunities in Michigan
Find My Chapter
Together, we’re making an impact. Find an Alzheimer’s Association chapter in your community for more ways to engage.
202,800
people living with Alzheimer’s in Michigan
380,000
Michiganders are providing unpaid care
$1.5 Billion
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
155%
increase in Alzheimer’s deaths 2000-2021
16%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
183.5%
increase of geriatricians in Michigan needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in Michigan
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 Michigan policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.