Hawaii
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.
Fund a Permanent Dementia Coordinator Position in Hawaii
Hawaii needs an advocate within state government to coordinate necessary state services for people living with and impacted by Alzheimer’s and all dementia. With 29,000 Hawaiians living with Alzheimer’s and 65,000 caregivers providing needed care to these vulnerable residents, we need to ensure the state government fully represents and serves all those impacted by this disease. With the legislature having already established the position in state law, the Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state government leaders to pass HB581/SB366 to fund the permanent dementia coordinator position to coordinate implementation of the Hawaii 2025 plan and lead future updates in addition to securing federal funding, and leveraging additional resources to better respond to Alzheimer's.
Increase Education on Early Detection and Timely Diagnosis
Currently, only 50% of those living with Alzheimer's disease receive a formal diagnosis. This needs to change. Educating clinicians, public health professionals and the public on the early warning signs of Alzheimer's and other dementias and the importance of a timely diagnosis is the first step in ensuring that anyone diagnosed with this disease can benefit from future treatments, care planning and clinical trials. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging legislators to support HB474/SB1032 to create a dementia screening pilot program to provide education on the importance of dementia screening and to provide screenings for eligible Hawaiians.
Hawaii State Plan Overview
In 2011 the Hawaii Executive Office on Aging, in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter, formed a special Task Force to develop a State Plan on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). The task force included representatives from state agencies, care provider organizations, community organizations, faith communities, and research centers as well as advocates, long-term care providers, consumers, and elder law attorneys. In December 2013, the Office on Aging published Hawaii 2025: State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.
In 2018, Governor Ige signed into law House Bill 1916, which mandates that the Executive Office on Aging update and bi-annually report to the state legislature and the Governor on the progress of the implementation of the Hawaii State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.
Hawaii State Advocacy Day
Join fellow Alzheimer’s advocates for an exciting virtual advocacy day Hawaii’s state lawmakers to support people with dementia and their families. We will have a series of informative and engaging virtual events with guest speakers to highlight the urgent need for a dementia coordinator position. Join us for storytelling, advocacy training and direct engagement with your state government representatives. More information will be coming soon!
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in Hawaii
State Affairs Contact Ian Ross | 808-652-3380 | [email protected]
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 29,000 |
| 2025 | 5,000 | 16,000 | 14,000 | 35,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$240
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
18.7%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$20,009
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)
| 480 | total deaths in Hawaii | |
| 6th | leading cause of death in Hawaii | |
| 307% | 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.