Missouri
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Require Training for Professional Care Providers
Help us build a workforce that is better prepared to take care of our loved ones. We can do this by requiring evidence-based dementia training for all those who serve individuals with dementia. We need to implement curriculum that incorporates the principles of person-centered care and provides for continuing education so that professional direct care providers have the latest information on best practices to care for people twith dementia. Better trained workers leads to better care.
Increase Access to Home and Community-Based Services
Maintain Funding for Alzheimer’s Respite Grants
Caregivers often experience declining health, job loss and financial difficulties. Respite assistance gives care partners a much needed break. In Missouri, 314,000 family caregivers provide 358 million hours of unpaid care at a value of more than $4 billion dollars, much of which would otherwise be provided in a nursing home and funded by Medicaid. We support maintaining the $450,000 in the Budget for the Department of Health and Senior Services, HB 10. Respite assistance provides funds for respite support or care-related products for families for a loved one with Alzheimer's at home. Family caregivers reported that the state funded respite assistance program helps them keep their loved ones at home longer. If this program delays nursing home placement by just one month, Missouri could save more than $2 million annually in Medicaid costs.
Advance Alzheimer's Policy
Establish an Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force
Alzheimer’s is a large and growing public health crisis that state policymakers cannot ignore. Each state has its own unique gaps and needs, and a state-specific plan can recommend tailored policies to better serve those living with dementia and their families. Missouri's State Alzheimer’s Plan was published in 2010 and is out-of-date. It is critical that Missouri conducts a current, comprehensive needs assessment and produces a set of timely recommendations that lawmakers and stakeholders can implement, to meet the unique needs of individuals and families living with dementia in our state. To do this, we are supporting legistation to create the Missouri Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force.
Missouri State Plan Overview
In 2009, the Missouri General Assembly established the Missouri Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force through passage of HB 272. Tasked with assessing the challenges posed by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias within the state, the Task Force included representatives from state agencies, health care providers, and community organizations as well as caregivers, state legislators, an individual living with Alzheimer's, and the Lieutenant Governor. After collecting public input regarding community frustrations, concerns, and advice on dealing with this disease, the Task Force presented the Missouri Alzheimer's State Plan, published in November 2010.
Missouri State Advocacy Day
March 04, 2020
Help us speak with one voice as we travel to Jefferson City to educate elected officials about Alzheimer's disease and to enhance access to care, support and services for people with dementia and their families. The day will conclude with a ceremony in the Capitol rotunda.
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 Missouri
State Affairs Contact Jerry Dowell | 5734894263 | [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 | 18,000 | 49,000 | 47,000 | 110,000 |
| 2025 | 21,000 | 61,000 | 51,000 | 130,000 |
Percentage change from 2019
Medicaid
$923
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2019)
21.8%
change in costs from 2019 to 2025
Medicare
$22,425
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 Missouri |
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.