New Jersey
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.
Increase Public and Health Care Provider Awareness Around Alzheimer’s Disease
Currently, only 50% of those living with Alzheimer's disease receive a formal diagnosis. This needs to change. Educating clinicians, public health professionals and the public on the early warning signs of Alzheimer's and other dementias and the importance of a timely diagnosis is the first step in ensuring that anyone diagnosed with this disease can benefit from future treatments, care planning and clinical trials. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging legislators to support legislation (A2632) to prioritize Alzheimer’s into public health campaigns to increase education among the public and health care providers on the benefits of early detection and diagnosis, risk reduction, and care planning.
Empower Adult Protective Services Workers with Dementia-Training
Adult Protective Services (APS) workers are on the front lines of protecting older adults from exploitation and harm. Many of the adults they are charged to protect are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, and it is critical that these workers have the training to understand how to best serve this population. That’s why the Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation (A-4444) to ensure all APS workers be trained regarding dementia, communication with individuals, and spotting cases of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation.
New Jersey State Plan Overview
In June 2011, the New Jersey Alzheimer's Disease Study Commission was established with the enactment of Senate Bill 125 to study the current and future impact and incidence of Alzheimer's disease within the state. The Commission was tasked with making recommendations for improving, expanding, and improving services within the state to meet the needs of those affected by Alzheimer's and included representatives from state agencies, direct service providers, long-term care providers, community organizations, and the faith communities as well as state legislators, caregivers, and those living with the disease. The New Jersey Alzheimer's Disease Study Commission Report was published in August 2016.
New Jersey State Advocacy Day
Join fellow Alzheimer’s advocates and make your voice heard in urging New Jersey legislators to support people with dementia and their families. We are planning informative and engaging events with state government leaders in June to highlight the urgent need for increased public awareness and dementia training for Adult Protective Services workers. More information will be released soon.
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in New Jersey
State Affairs Contact Phil Echevarria | 908-812-0435 | [email protected]
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 27,000 | 79,000 | 80,000 | 190,000 |
| 2025 | 29,000 | 95,000 | 87,000 | 210,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$2,186
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
19.6%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$30,930
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)
| 2,710 | total deaths in New Jersey | |
| 6th | leading cause of death in New Jersey |
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.