Louisiana
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Support Implementation and Updates to the State Alzheimer’s Plan
Louisiana published a State Alzheimer’s Plan after discussions with multiple stakeholders to outline how the state can address Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state leaders to continue to prioritize regular updates and implementation to the State Alzheimer’s Plan to support people with dementia and their family caregiver. Louisiana must focus on addressing Alzheimer’s as a public health crisis; building a dementia capable workforce; increasing access to home and community-based services; and improving the quality of care in residential settings.
Prioritize Long-Term Care in the Response to COVID-19
The pandemic has exposed gaps in the provision of long-term care (LTC) in Louisiana. As the state continues its response, the Alzheimer’s Association is urging state policymakers to prioritize LTC, focusing on testing; reporting; surge activation; and providing support. This includes providing LTC communities with access to rapid testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) so residents and their families can safely reunite, as well as ensuring that outbreaks are reported and that long-term care is included in the state’s emergency preparedness and response plans.
Louisiana State Plan Overview
In 2008, the Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force through the enactment of of Senate Concurrent Resolution 80 to study the impact of Alzheimer's within the state and make recommendations to meet the growing issues presented by the disease. The Task Force included representatives from state agencies, care associations, long-term care providers, and community organizations as well as caregivers, state legislators, and individuals directly impacted by the disease. The Task Force presented their final report, The Impact of Alzheimer's Disease in Louisiana: A Report by the Alzheimer's Disease Task Force, to the Louisiana Legislature and Governor's Office in October 2009.
Louisiana State Advocacy Day
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State Affairs Contact MaryBeth Wilkerson | | [email protected]
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 16,000 | 40,000 | 36,000 | 92,000 |
| 2025 | 18,000 | 49,000 | 40,000 | 110,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$765
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
22.1%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$29,001
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)
| 2,166 | total deaths in Louisiana | |
| 6th | leading cause of death in Louisiana | |
| 167% | 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.