Michigan
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Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Strengthen Michigan’s Direct Care Workforce
Individuals with Alzheimer’s or other dementias have needs that often make care delivery challenging and demanding. Direct care workers often do not have sufficient dementia-specific knowledge to effectively support those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To ensure all Michiganders with dementia have access to high quality care, the Alzheimer’s Association is working with state partners toward recommendations that require dementia training for direct care workers.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Dementia Training for First Responders
Adult Protective Services, law enforcement and first responders are critical toward ensuring the safety and wellbeing of individuals with dementia. First responders often interact with people who have dementia and are among the first to observe instances of abuse and neglect. However, without dementia training, situations may escalate quickly. The Alzheimer’s Association is working to establish dementia training requirements or Adult Protective Services and law enforcement/first responders through the Attorney General’s elder abuse task force where increased training is a priority.
Increase Access to Home and Community-Based Services
My Home MI Choice
While many people with dementia seek to remain in their homes and communities, the lack of sufficient services makes this harder. The MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program currently serves approximately 16,000 adults with disabilities, older adults and individuals with dementia. The Program is cost-effective and produces savings of more than 58% over alternative publicly funded long-term care options, like nursing home care. However, the current wait list prevents access to the MI Choice Waiver services leading many people with dementia to require care in a nursing home. Michigan currently has over 190,000 people living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia - a figure expected to rise to 220,000 by 2025. With a current waiting list and a growing dementia population, the Alzheimer’s Association supports increased funding to the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver program.
Advance Alzheimer's Policy
Support a Dementia Coordinator Position in the Department of Health and Human Services
As the number of people with dementia continues to grow in Michigan, the impact reaches all areas of State government. While a public health crisis and the sixth leading cause of death in the state, Michigan currently does not prioritize Alzheimer’s like it does other leading chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The Alzheimer’s Association supports elevating the issue of dementia through a new dementia unit led by a full-time Dementia Coordinator within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. This position is critical to ensure a clear, unified response to address dementia. The Coordinator would work with stakeholders in and out of state government to effectively streamline programs and services and oversee the updates and implementation of the State Alzheimer’s Plan.
Michigan State Plan Overview
Created by the Michigan Dementia Coalition, Michigan Dementia Plan Update: 2009-2011 was published in January 2009. The Coalition is comprised of community agencies, universities, dementia caregivers, and state government officials.
Michigan State Advocacy Day
April 28, 2020
The Alzheimer's Association was forced to postpone Advocacy Day in the wake of the statewide shelter-in-place order issued by the governor. However, in an effort to engage our volunteer advocates and to capitalize on the preparations that had been made in advance of the scheduled meeting, staff and advocates conducted virtual meetings in lieu of in-person meetings. Our advocates were able to meet with nearly all of the members of the Senate Committees responsible for our legislative priorities on April 28, despite the pandemic. Efforts to engage our volunteer advocates with key members of the House Committees responsible for our priorities have been ongoing throughout the summer on an individualized basis to accomplish the necessary outreach to accomplish our legislative objectives. Lastly, the State CEO, Public Policy Director, Public Policy Manager, and volunteer committee continue to prepare contingency plans should the opportunity arise to plan and offer an advocacy day in Michigan prior to the end of our legislative deliberations for the year.
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in Michigan
State Affairs Contact Colin Ford | 5174201060 | [email protected]
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 30,000 | 82,000 | 80,000 | 190,000 |
| 2025 | 34,000 | 100,000 | 85,000 | 220,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$1,487
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
16.9%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$28,325
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)
| 4,474 | total deaths in Michigan | |
| 6th | leading cause of death in Michigan | |
| 172% | 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.