Create a Permanent Dementia Coordinator Position in Indiana
Indiana needs an advocate within state government to coordinate necessary state services for people living with and impacted by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. With 110,000 Hoosiers living with Alzheimer’s and 215,000 family and friends providing unpaid care to these vulnerable residents, we need to ensure that our state government is responsive to all those impacted by this disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state government leaders to establish a dementia coordinator position to be housed in the Division of Aging and coordinate work between state agencies, implement policy initiatives, and seek out and apply for new federal funding for research and services.
Empower Home Health Aides with Dementia Training
Currently in Indiana, Home Health Aides receive little or no training on how to properly care for someone living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. With more and more Hoosiers living with dementia receiving in-home care, it is critical that Home Health Aides receive adequate training so they are prepared to provide quality patient-centered care. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on legislators to support forthcoming legislation in Indiana that will require Home Health Aides to receive Alzheimer’s and dementia-specific training.
Add Alzheimer’s & Dementia Expertise to Indiana’s Medicaid Advisory Committee
The Indiana Medicaid Advisory Committee helps state agencies and lawmakers set Medicaid policy for the state. At a time when the state is working on transforming its long-term care system and the cost of serving Hoosiers living with Alzheimer’s and dementia on the Medicaid program is projected to grow 17% in the next five years, we need to make sure that there is an expert voice for our constituents around that table. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state legislators to support forthcoming legislation to add the Alzheimer’s Association to Indiana’s Medicaid Advisory Committee.
Indiana State Plan Overview
In July 2011, Governor Mitch Daniels appointed the Governor's Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, tasked with developing Indiana's plan to address Alzheimer's disease. The Task Force included representatives from state agencies, non-profit organizations, care provider agencies as well as state legislators, researchers, issue experts, caregivers, and health care providers. After reviewing the concerns and suggestions expressed during public input sessions, the Task Force published the Indiana Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias 2013-2017 in 2013. In 2021, following advocacy by the Alzheimer's Association, state lawmakers enacted HB 1177 (Public Law 36 of 2021) requiring an updated state Alzheimer’s plan that includes a comprehensive needs assessment and ensures a focus on key priorities including early detection and diagnosis; strengthening the dementia care workforce; increasing access to home and community-based services; and improving quality of care. The plan was released in December of 2021.
Indiana State Advocacy Day
February 01, 2022
Our Indiana Virtual Day of Action took place on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. We can't thank all of our advocates around the state enough for their engagement and dedication to our mission and advocating for our 2022 legislative priorities. This year we had 270 advocates register for our day of action and they were able to send nearly 500 direct messages and policy requests to state legislators. These requests were so important to our legislative efforts in the 2022 legislative session of the Indiana General Assembly!
