Rhode Island State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In April 2012, the Rhode Island General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 2858, directing the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council to lead a workgroup on the development of a state plan. The workgroup was co-chaired by the chair of the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council, the lieutenant governor or designee and the director of the division of elderly affairs. After collecting public feedback, the workgroup published the Rhode Island’s State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders in September 2013. In February 2019, the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council published the 2019 Update, Rhode Island State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. Led by the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, Rhode Island launched a revision process of the 2019 State Plan. The Council held community forums and an ADRD Stakeholder Summit to help inform the updated state plan for 2024-2029, which was published in February 2024. The updated state plan is in alignment with the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map and includes goals, objectives and strategies to improve the state’s response to Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
Rhode Island 2026 Policy Priorities
Reinstate Dementia Training Requirements for Clinicians
Alzheimer’s has an outsized impact on our health care system, costing Rhode Island an estimated $613 million in Medicaid funds in 2025 alone. As this burden grows, the health care workforce must evolve to meet the challenge. With new research on reducing dementia risk, advancements in diagnosis, and the approval of treatments that can slow progression, it is more important than ever that clinicians are equipped with the latest knowledge. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to reinstate and permanently establish a one-hour dementia-specific training standard for Rhode Island physicians and physician assistants.
Empower Adult Protective Services with Dementia Training
Adult Protective Services (APS) workers frequently encounter individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia when responding to emergencies and are often the first to observe instances of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Often the first point of intervention for a person living with dementia, APS workers must be able to recognize the signs of dementia and know how to effectively communicate with an individual living with dementia to ensure a timely response for victims of elder abuse. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging to ensure dementia-specific training is required for all APS workers.
Establish a Dementia Services Coordinator Position
With over 22,000 Rhode Islanders living with Alzheimer’s, the state has recognized the need for action by publishing the 2024-2029 Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders State Plan. However, a lack of dedicated leadership is hindering Rhode Island’s ability to turn this plan into reality. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on the state legislature to establish a Dementia Services Coordinator position within the Department of Health. This role will support the work of the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Treatment, oversee implementation of the state Alzheimer’s plan, and serve as a liaison between state agencies, the governor, the legislature, and external stakeholders.
Rhode Island State Advocacy Day
Join us for our Rhode Island State Advocacy Day at the State House. Hear from Alzheimer’s Association staff about our 2026 legislative priorities, along with remarks from elected officials and advocates sharing their personal stories. After the program, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with legislators, Association staff, and partner organizations — and we’ll provide everything you need to speak with your state senator or representative!
Sign Up to Learn About Advocacy Opportunities in Rhode Island
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: Meredith Sheehan
Phone: 401.859.2251
Email: mlsheehan@alz.org
22,000
people living with Alzheimer’s in Rhode Island
37,000
Rhode Islanders are providing unpaid care
$613 Million
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2025)
475
deaths from Alzheimer’s in 2022
25%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
18.8%
increase of geriatricians in Rhode Island needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.