District of Columbia
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Protect DC Residents with Alzheimer's by Funding the Dementia Training for Direct Care Workers Act
Following persistent advocacy by Alzheimer’s advocates, the District enacted legislation in 2020 which created a new standard for dementia training. The legislation requires eight hours of training on dementia for staff members at skilled nursing facilities, assisted living residences, adult day care facilities, home care agencies, and hospices. The requirement applies to all direct service staff, administrative staff, and independent contractors who work closely with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association supports an appropriation of $170,000 in 2021 to ensure that the DC Health Department can effectively implement and oversee the new dementia-training requirements.
Update the District's State Alzheimer's Plan
Today, numerous DC 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 agencies working separately from one another. The District needs an updated State Alzheimer’s Plan bringing all of the key officials and private-sector stakeholders together to outline a comprehensive and coordinated approach to addressing Alzheimer’s. Building off of work done by the Council and the Department of Health in 2019 and 2020, the Alzheimer’s Association will urge the Council and the Department of Health to reignite a stakeholder committee as a first step in developing a new State Alzheimer’s Plan.
District of Columbia State Plan Overview
In 2012 the District of Columbia Office on Aging (DCOA) established a workgroup of community partners and stakeholders throughout the District to develop an Alzheimer's plan. In 2013, the District of Columbia State Plan on Alzheimer's Disease 2014-2019 was published to mitigate the effects of Alzheimer's disease and improve access to benefits for those affected within the District. Legislation enacted in 2019 created the role of the Dementia Services Coordinator in the DC Department of Health and is tasked with implementing and updating the District’s State Alzheimer’s Plan.
District of Columbia State Advocacy Day
May 11, 2021
Join your fellow District Alzheimer’s advocates for an opportunity to engage DC elected officials, and advocate for a better future for District residents with Alzheimer's and other dementia.
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in District of Columbia
State Affairs Contact Eric Colchamiro | 202-365-6612 | [email protected]
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 9,000 |
| 2025 | 1,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 9,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$126
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
6.8%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$31,993
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)
| 105 | total deaths in District of Columbia |
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.