Arkansas
Enter your address here to see your elected officials' positions on Alzheimer's and ways you can contact them to support the Alzheimer's community.
Establish the Arkansas Alzheimer's and Dementia Advisory Council
Over the last year, the Alzheimer's Association has been working with state government agencies and other stakeholders to update the Arkansass State Alzheimer’s Plan to outline a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing Alzheimer’s and supporting the over 60,000 Arkansans currently living with Alzheimer's and their family caregivers. To ensure the ongoing implementation of the Plan, Arkansas needs a permanent Alzheimer's and Dementia Advisory Council to support state agencies and provide policy solutions to support individuals and their caregivers navigate the challenges of Alzheimer's and other dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on legislators to support forthcoming legislation in Arkansas to establish the Council and direct the state agencies to implement the State Plan.
Arkansas State Plan Overview
In 2009, the Task Force on the Effect of Alzheimer's Disease in Arkansas was established via House Bill 1014 to bring together caregivers, public health officials, patient advocates, and community leaders to tackle a range of Alzheimer's issues. After collecting public feedback to inform the plan's recommendations, the Task Force published The Task Force on the Effect of Alzheimer's Disease in Arkansas Final Report in 2011.
Arkansas State Advocacy Day
January 26, 2021
Join fellow Alzheimer’s advocates in urging Arkansas state lawmakers to support people with dementia and their families. We will have informative and engaging virtual events with state government leaders to highlight the urgent need for an Alzheimer's and Dementia Advisory Council in Arkansas. Beginning on January 26th, we will host a series of events mixing storytelling, advocacy training and direct engagement with your state government representatives. And we will all wear purple to unify us in our virtual efforts!
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in Arkansas
State Affairs Contact David Cook | 501-253-1931 | [email protected]
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,000 | 26,000 | 23,000 | 58,000 |
| 2025 | 11,000 | 31,000 | 24,000 | 67,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$396
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
14.6%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$22,373
per capita Medicare spending on people with dementia (in 2019 dollars)
HOSPICE (2017)
#
of people in hospice have a primary diagnosis of dementia
of people in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
Geriatricians
Number of geriatricians in 2019
increase needed to meet Alzheimer's population needs in 2050
Hospitals (2017)
#
of emergency department visits per 1,000 people with dementia
dementia patient hospital readmission rate
increase in emergency deparment visits since 2007
Caregiving
Number of Caregivers
Total Hours of Unpaid Care
Total Value of Unpaid Care
Number of Deaths from Alzheimer's Disease (2018)
| 1,457 | total deaths in Arkansas | |
| 6th | leading cause of death in Arkansas | |
| 8th | highest Alzheimer's death rate in America | |
| 239% | increase in Alzheimer's deaths since 2000 |
For more information, view the 2020 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report at alz.org/facts.
U.S. Statistics
Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, and as many as 13.8 million will have the disease in 2050. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias is estimated to total $305 billion in 2020, increasing to $1.1 trillion (in today's dollars) by mid-century. Nearly 1 in 3 seniors who dies each year has Alzheimer's or another dementia.