Update the Arizona Alzheimer’s State Plan
Today, numerous Arizona state agencies administer a variety of programs critical to people living with dementia, including Medicaid, adult protective services, and health professional and facility licensure. However, these efforts are often siloed, with multiple state agencies working separately from one another. Arizona needs an updated State Alzheimer’s Plan bringing all of the key state officials and private-sector stakeholders together to outline a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing Alzheimer’s. The existing Arizona Alzheimer's State Plan was published in 2015 but implementation has lagged. The Alzheimer’s Association will urge the legislature to approve legislation to create a permanent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Council and require an updated state plan every four years.
Establish a Full-Time Dementia Coordinator Position in Arizona
In three years, the number of Arizonans living with Alzheimer's disease is projected to increase by over 33% - the fastest rate of growth in the country. While the state released the Arizona Alzheimer's State Plan in 2015, implementation has lagged. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state policymakers to establish a Dementia Services Coordinator position within the Arizona Department of Health (AZDHS). This position would ensure coordination of Alzheimer’s programs and policies across state agencies by overseeing the implementation and updating of the State Alzheimer’s Plan, coordinating dementia work groups and task forces, identifying service gaps within the state government, and more.
Arizona State Plan Overview
The Arizona Alzheimer's Task Force was established in 2011 as a collaboration of the Governor's Office on Aging, the Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Aging and Adult Services, the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, and the Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest Chapter. The goal was to bring together a wide range of stakeholders, both public and private, to develop a plan to address the growing number of Arizonans with Alzheimer's disease. In 2015, the Task Force published the Arizona Alzheimer's State Plan: A Framework for Action, which was developed through the cooperation of more than 100 community members.
Arizona State Advocacy Day
February 23, 2022
Join Advocates from across Arizona on February 23rd for the 6th Annual Arizona Alzheimer's State Day at the Arizona Capitol. The Alzheimer's Association welcomes Arizonans to participate in an exciting day of virtual advocacy, urging state legislators to support ongoing dementia-related legislation benefiting those living with dementia and their caregivers.
