California
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Support AB 388 - It's a #KNOWBrainer
Invest $10 million to adopt the CDC's Healthy Brain Initiative in California. It's time to take BOLD action to build the state and local public health infrastructure to increase awareness, improve outcomes, plan for an aging population and prepare communities to respond to the Alzheimer's crisis. The Alzheimer's Association supports the introduction of Assembly Bill 388, requiring the California State Department of Health to implement the action agenda items in the Healthy Brain Initiative and coordinate a statewide public awareness campaign to educate the public on the sign’s and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and to reach consumers at risk of cognitive impairment, with targeted outreach to populations at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The bill will, upon appropriation by the Legislature, require the department to establish a pilot program in up to 8 counties, and award participating counties one-time grant funding over 3 consecutive fiscal years, to develop local initiatives that are consistent with the Healthy Brain Initiative.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Empower Consumers to Take Charge of Their Cognitive Health
Less than half of Californians affected by Alzheimer's have been diagnosed by a doctor and even fewer have been told of their diagnosis. To address this health disparity, the public needs to know the common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in order to access community and clinical supports. Public Health is well positioned to reach individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer's with culturally competent health information.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Collect and Use Data to Drive Service Delivery
California's experience with Alzheimer's disease must be captured in national data sets, including the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey (BRFSS). In 2020, the California Department of Public Health has the opportunity to survey Californians as young as age 45 on their cognition concerns in order to plan programs and services to meet statewide needs.
California State Plan Overview
In 2008, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 491 calling for the development of a state plan. Under the direction of the California Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Advisory Committee, established within the California Health and Human Services Agency, a task force was created including representatives from state agencies, community organizations, under-represented communities, and academia as well as health care providers, caregivers, and individuals living with the disease. After incorporating public feedback to address California's culturally diverse population, the Task Force published California's State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease: An Action Plan for 2011-2021 in early 2011.
California State Advocacy Day
February 05, 2019
Advocates from across the state will meet with newly elected Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislators to urge lawmakers to invest $10 million to adopt the CDC's Healthy Brain Initiative in California. A bold new public health approach is needed to increase awareness, improve outcomes, plan for an aging population and prepare communities to respond to the Alzheimer's crisis. State Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) and Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) will be honored as Alzheimer's Association Legislators of the Year.
2020 Advocacy Forum
March 22-24, 2020 alz.org/forum
As an Alzheimer's advocate, you've worked to advance critical public policy, making a difference in the lives of all those impacted by Alzheimer's. Together we've achieved great increases in federal Alzheimer's research funding and secured critical advances in care and support. But we can't take our successes for granted — we need to keep the pressure on.
Join us in Washington for an inspiring three-day event filled with networking, training and education.
Be part of the movement that's making a difference in the fight against Alzheimer's.
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in California
State Affairs Contact Susan DeMarois | 9164472731 | [email protected]
Elected Officials
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.
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 100,000 | 280,000 | 280,000 | 670,000 |
| 2025 | 120,000 | 380,000 | 330,000 | 840,000 |
Percentage change from 2019
Medicaid
$3.925
BILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2019)
32.0%
change in costs from 2019 to 2025
Medicare
$30,665
per capita Medicare spending on people with dementia (in 2018 dollars)
HOSPICE (2016)
#
of people in hospice have a primary diagnosis of dementia
of people in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
Hospitals (2015)
#
of emergency department visits per 1,000 people with dementia
dementia patient hospital readmission rate
Caregiving
Number of Caregivers
Total Hours of Unpaid Care
Total Value of Unpaid Care
Higher Health Costs of Caregivers
Number of Deaths from Alzheimer's Disease (2017)
| 3rd | leading cause of death in California |
| 268% | increase in Alzheimer's deaths since 2000 |
For more information, view the 2019 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 14 million will have the disease in 2050. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias is estimated to total $290 billion in 2019, increasing to $1.1 trillion (in today's dollars) by mid-century. Nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year has Alzheimer's or another dementia.