Massachusetts

MASSACHUSETTS 2021 STATE POLICY PRIORITIES

Massachusetts State Plan Overview

View Massachusetts's State Plan

In 2010, Governor Deval Patrick directed the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter, to draft a state plan addressing Alzheimer's disease within the state. In response, these two agencies convened an Advisory Committee that included families and individuals impacted by the disease as well as representatives from state and local health and human services agencies, councils on aging, academia, public safety agencies, and professional caregiver associations. Gathering public input, the Advisory Committee published the Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders State Plan in February 2012. Following 2018 legislation (Chapter 220 of the Acts of 2018), a new State Alzheimer's Plan was released in April 2021.



ADVOCACY EVENTS

Massachusetts State Advocacy Day

June 14, 2021

Registration Details

Use your voice to support people with Alzheimer’s and urge state lawmakers to support people with dementia and their families. Sign up here: https://www.alz.org/manh/events/ma-state-advocacy-week


Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in Massachusetts


Sign me up to participate in the upcoming State Advocacy Day!

State Affairs Contact Chelsea Gordon | 617-868-6718 [email protected]



Alzheimer's Facts and Figures in Massachusetts

Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, an annual report released by the Alzheimer's Association®, reveals the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, caregivers, government and the nation's health care system.


Prevalence



woman holding glasses

130,000

Individuals living with Alzheimer's in Massachusetts

This number is projected to increase 15.4% between 2020 and 2025.

Nationally, there are more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer's. This number is expected to more than double by 2050.

Mortality


1,663

Deaths from Alzheimer's in Massachusetts in 2019
couple hugging on bench

Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in Massachusetts.

There were 524 more deaths than expected from Alzheimer's and dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, 7% higher than average.


Caregiving



caregiver hugging

Value of unpaid care work

Hours of unpaid care


Nationally, Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers provided nearly $257 billion in unpaid care in 2020. In Massachusetts, there are 281,000 dementia caregivers, who each provide an average of 28 hours of unpaid care per week

Costs

Medicare

$33,029

per capita Medicare spending on people with dementia

Medicaid

$1,753,000,000

Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's in 2020

Hospice and Hospitals



7,245

# of people in hospice with a primary diagonsis of dementia


1,668

# of emergency department visits per 1,000 people with dementia


People with Alzheimer's disease have twice as many hospital stays per year as other older people. Nationally, emergency department visits for those with dementia have increased nearly 30% over the past decade.


The 2021 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report contains data on the impact of Alzheimer's on the nation and in every state across the country.
Visit alz.org/facts to view the full report.