Virginia State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
The Virginia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission serves as an advisory board within the executive branch and assists people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia as well as their caregivers and families. In 2009, the Commission began collecting public input to inform a state plan on Alzheimer’s. In December 2011, the Commission published the Dementia State Plan: Virginia’s Response to the Needs of Individuals with Dementia and their Caregivers. The Commission updated the Dementia State Plan again in 2015, 2019 and most recently in 2024 with the publication of The Virginia Dementia State Plan 2024-2027: Building a Dementia-Capable Virginia. In consultation with the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Department of Behavioral Health and Disability Services, Department of Medical Assistance Services, Department of Social Services and Virginia Department of Health, the updated state plan encompasses updated goals for addressing Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
Virginia 2026 Policy Priorities
Extend the Virginia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission
Alzheimer’s is a complex disease that impacts many different state agencies and stakeholders. Continued coordination and collaboration across state government with external stakeholders is critical to effectively address the growing prevalence and impact of this disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to extend the sunset provision for Virginia’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission to ensure continued leadership in building the state’s dementia infrastructure.
Funding for the Virginia Memory Project
Regular collection of dementia-specific data is critical to analyzing trends over time. Through data collection and analysis, public health officials and state lawmakers can better understand the extent and impact of Alzheimer’s and other dementia in Virginia. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to provide $300,000 for the ongoing operation and technical support of the Virginia Memory Project.
Establish Dementia Specialists Across Virginia
Individuals diagnosed with or caring for someone living with dementia have to navigate a complex network of services and benefits to meet their care needs. With 164,000 Virginians living with Alzheimer’s and the prevalence expected to continue to grow, Virginia 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 allocate $4.1 million to establish Dementia Care Specialists in each of the 25 Area Agencies on Aging. These specialists will help families navigate through the stages of dementia, and provide caregiver education and support services, among other vital services.
Support the Delivery of Dementia Training for First Responders
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 allocate $2.5 million for the design and delivery of dementia-specific first responder training.
Virginia State Advocacy Day
Virginia State Advocacy Day
Your Story Has Power — Help Us Improve Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Across Virginia! This is your chance to share your story directly with legislators and help shape policies that support families impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Sign Up to Learn About Advocacy Opportunities in Virginia
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: Joshua Myers
Phone: 804.864.3678
Email: jlmyers@alz.org
164,000
people living with Alzheimer’s in Virginia
346,000
Virginians are providing unpaid care
$1.4 Billion
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2025)
2,506
deaths from Alzheimer’s in 2022
19%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
51.3%
increase of geriatricians in Virginia needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in Virginia
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 Virginia policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.