Mississippi
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Take Action Against Alzheimer’s
While Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, only 16% of seniors receive regular cognitive assessments during routine health check-ups. In 2019, Alzheimer’s and other related dementias will cost the nation $290 billion and is increasing steadily. For these reasons, it is imperative that care providers are informed of the importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. For this to happen, legislation must be passed directing the State Department of health to administer a relevant training module.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Include "Dementia" in Department of Health Directives
Too often do signs of cognitive impairment go unnoticed. Usually, loved ones and care-givers are not aware of the 10 signs of early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Help us encourage the Mississippi Department of Health to include the terms “dementia” and “cognitive impairment” in their directives, funding announcements, guidance, and plans to facilitate the integration of early detection of dementia in existing chronic disease prevention and management initiatives focused on consumer. This is especially important so that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in may be included in education campaigns and Mississippi’s citizens are informed and prepared for the future.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Include the Cognitive Decline and Caregiver Modules in the State BRFSS Survey
Each year, every state conducts a public health survey through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). States may collect data through the BRFSS on the impact of cognitive decline using the Cognitive Module and the Caregiver Module. Currently, the Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) is not including these modules in the state's annual BRFSS survey. It is important that MDH ensures this data is collected so that the state can adequately assess the needs of Mississippians living with dementia and the needs of their family caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association is seeking support for the inclusion of these modules in the state BRFSS.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Include Geriatricians and Neurologists in the Rural Physicians Scholarship Program
Currently, the Rural Physicians Scholarship Program provides up to $30,000 a year to medical students willing to practice in a rural community for four years upon graduation. However, scholarship recipients are required to specialize in one of four categories: family medicine, pediatrics, general internal medicine, or obstetrics-gynecology. Currently, gerontology and neurology, specializations that are critical to people with dementia and experiencing workforce shortages, are not included. Help us encourage lawmakers to add these specialty providers to the Rural Physicians Scholarship Program to ensure the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Support Dementia Training for First Responders
Police officers, paramedics and firefighters have frequent interactions with individuals who have Alzheimer’s and other dementias in a variety of settings and often in crisis situations. Many of these professionals have little or no formal training to prepare them for the unique physical, behavioral, and communication issues related to dementia. Legislative action is needed to allocate resources for first responders to be trained in the recognition of individuals with Alzheimer's and the ability to secure the safety of abused and exploited people with dementia.
Advance Alzheimer's Policy
Protect Mississippians with Alzheimer's from Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation is a growing concern in Mississippi with an increasing number of Mississippians living with dementia. Currently, over 55,000 individuals in the state are living with Alzheimer's and this figure will grow to 65,000 by 2025. As the disease progresses, people with dementia are more likely to be susceptible to financial exploitation. The Alzheimer's Association is supporting S.B. 2202/H.B. 940 to authorize financial institutions to delay a transaction when financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult is suspected. Join us as we work to prevent financial exploitation among Mississippians with dementia!
Mississippi State Plan Overview
Mississippi's Strategic Plan to address Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias is a project led by the Department of Mental Health, Division of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, in collaboration with other stakeholders, public and private. The Strategic Plan was published in 2015 as an update to the original plan published in 2010.
Mississippi State Advocacy Day
March 12, 2020
Share your story and let your voice be heard in Jackson, MS. Mark your calendar for our upcoming advocacy event. Any and all welcome! Let's keep Alzheimer's top-of-mind at our State Capitol! Join us at 8 am for breakfast on the first floor of the Capitol with remarks and a photo at 10 am. Wear purple! For any friends/colleagues interested in advocating with us, please contact Loden Snell directly at 601-421-0276 or [email protected]
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in Mississippi
State Affairs Contact Loden Snell | | [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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,000 | 25,000 | 21,000 | 57,000 |
| 2025 | 12,000 | 30,000 | 23,000 | 65,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$606
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
20.4%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$26,566
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)
| 1,547 | total deaths in Mississippi | |
| 6th | leading cause of death in Mississippi | |
| 3rd | highest Alzheimer's death rate in America | |
| 249% | 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.