Illinois
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Enable Dementia-Capable Docs - Support Physician Education
Approximately 50% of people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias never receive a formal diagnosis. This limits their ability to engage in care planning and access available resources. Physicians are on the front lines in addressing this critical issue, but we must ensure they have the training they need to make a diagnosis or referral to best serve their patient. The Alzheimer’s Association is working to ensure all physicians who serve adults have a basic level of training on the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Open Our Eyes to Alzheimer’s and Dementia - Support a Public Awareness Campaign
Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death and most expensive disease in America. While most people are aware of steps they should take to prevent heart disease or lung cancer, Illinoisans do not know much about brain health, or why early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other dementias is so important. The Alzheimer’s Association is seeking leadership from our state policymakers to make Illinois dementia-capable by engaging in a comprehensive public awareness campaign that will include messages on early detection and diagnosis, access to services, brain health and risk reduction.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Empower APS Workers With Dementia-Specific Training
Adult Protective Services (APS) workers are on the front lines of protecting older adults from exploitation and harm. Many of the adults they are charged to protect are living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and it is critical that these workers have the training to understand how to best serve this population. The Alzheimer’s Association is advocating for APS workers to receive dementia-specific training on how to communicate with people living with dementia and how to spot cases of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
Increase Access to Home and Community-Based Services
Encourage the No Wrong Door Task Force to Consider People with Dementia
Illinois currently administers programs which provide critical services to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias who are unable to otherwise access care. However, these programs can be difficult and sometimes impossible to access, especially for people under 60 years old, as this population accesses services from a different state agency. The State of Illinois must explore ways to ensure services are accessible to all individuals and their caregivers. Illinois' No Wrong Door Task Force will bring all stakeholders to the table to identify solutions to remove hurdles and ensure all people can receive the care to which they are entitled.
Illinois State Plan Overview
Illinois publishes an updated Alzheimer's state plan every three years pursuant to the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act (410 ILCS 405). The Act charged the Illinois Department of Public Health to create an Advisory Committee comprised of persons experienced in Alzheimer's disease research, professional caregivers, members of advocacy organizations, persons living with Alzheimer's, and family members of those living with the disease. In 2012, the Act was amended to drive the next iteration of the state plan toward dementia-capability. The latest update, the Alzheimer's Disease Illinois State Plan: 2014-2017 Report and Recommendations, was released January 2014.
Illinois State Advocacy Day
April 22, 2020
Join our Illinois Advocacy Day! This 1-day event organizes, trains and connects Alzheimer's advocates with their state legislators, compelling our leaders to engage in the fight to make Illinois dementia capable. We'll bring our voices together to stand up and protect the rights of the nearly 1 million Illinois residents affected by this disease. In memory of those we've lost and in honor of those currently living with the disease, join us and help push Alzheimer's Association-backed legislation to better the lives of individuals, families, caregivers and communities in Illinois impacted by Alzheimer's disease. Transportation and meal(s) provided. All you need is passion - no experience required!
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 Illinois
State Affairs Contact David Olsen | 6306972552 | [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 | 33,000 | 96,000 | 97,000 | 230,000 |
| 2025 | 38,000 | 120,000 | 110,000 | 260,000 |
Percentage change from 2019
Medicaid
$1.713
BILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2019)
27.0%
change in costs from 2019 to 2025
Medicare
$27,193
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)
| 6th | leading cause of death in Illinois |
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.