New Mexico State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In 2012, the Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force established by House Memorial 20 was convened by the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department to assess and make recommendations for addressing Alzheimer’s and other dementia within the state. The Task Force included leaders of state agencies, health care providers, caregivers, individuals living with the disease, as well as representatives from academia and tribal organizations. After collecting input from the public, the Task Force published the New Mexico State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in 2013.
In 2014, the state established the State Dementia Plan Leadership Team and the Office of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care within the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department. The Leadership Team worked to determine priorities and establish subcommittees to oversee state plan implementation. In 2016, a larger group of stakeholders was convened to analyze current dementia-related data and assess the state’s progress on State Plan implementation, ultimately producing the 2017 State Plan Update.
In 2022, the state published the New Mexico State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, which reflects current and emerging trends surrounding the growing crisis of Alzheimer’s disease in the state. The updated State Plan includes thirteen goals to further address the needs of persons living with Alzheimer's and other dementia. Among the recommendations included in the plan are strengthening the dementia care workforce; establishing a Dementia Care Navigator program; and establishing dementia training standards for law enforcement and first responders.
New Mexico 2024 Policy Priorities
Support Caregivers Through a Dementia Care Specialist Program
Individuals diagnosed or caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s have to navigate a complex network of services and benefits to meet their care needs. With the prevalence of Alzheimer's and other dementia projected to grow, New Mexico needs a stronger infrastructure for providing accessible support to individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to appropriate funding to establish a Dementia Care Specialist program within the Aging and Long Term Services Department. These specialists will provide critical support to dementia caregivers by helping them navigate the care planning process and providing guided assistance.
Ensure New Mexico is Prepared to Address Alzheimer’s
New Mexico is home to 46,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s and 67,000 unpaid caregivers. By 2025, the number of New Mexicans living with Alzheimer’s is estimated to increase by 23.3%. As the population with dementia grows, a robust statewide response is needed to mitigate the impact. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on the Office of the Governor and Aging and Long Term Services Department to establish a council of state government officials and stakeholders that will work to address the growing impact of Alzheimer’s and other dementia. Coordination and collaboration among state agencies and external stakeholders is critical to effectively addressing this disease.
Spread Awareness of Alzheimer’s Across New Mexico
Nearly half of New Mexicans who are living with Alzheimer’s are not formally diagnosed. Those who have received a formal diagnosis are often unsure how to navigate health care and social support systems. Through a public awareness campaign, New Mexicans can learn about the early signs of dementia, risk reduction strategies, and healthy lifestyle changes that should be discussed with a health care professional. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on the Aging and Long Term Services Department to fund a public awareness campaign that promotes risk reduction of Alzheimer’s and other dementia, particularly in underserved communities that are disproportionately affected by the disease.
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46,000
people living with Alzheimer’s in New Mexico
67,000
New Mexicans are providing unpaid care
$227 Million
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
634
deaths from Alzheimer’s in 2021
15%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
244.4%
increase of geriatricians in New Mexico needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in New Mexico
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 New Mexico policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.