New Jersey
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Establish a Statewide Alzheimer's Public Awaressness Campaign
Most people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are not aware of their diagnosis, and only about half of those with Alzheimer's have been diagnosed. Diagnosis — and disclosure of that diagnosis — is necessary for care planning, which is critical to improving outcomes for the individual. It is critical that New Jersey's legislature enacts legislation that establishes a statewide public awareness campaign to educate health care providers and the public about the importance of early detection and diagnosis, and improve access to and awareness of resources.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Retain and Incentivize New Jersey’s Primary Care Professionals
New Jersey hospitals and medical schools have long been instrumental in maintaining the state’s physician workforce needs. 43 of New Jersey hospitals maintain residency programs, a higher proportion than nearly any other state. Despite these efforts, there are growing fears of a pending shortage of physicians in New Jersey. Trends in physician workforce data support the concept of a statewide deficit in the physician workforce supply pipeline, including those who specialize in gerontology, geriatrics, and dementia care. Loan redemption expansion – whether through the current program or specialty-specific programs – are proven tools to keep these physicians in New Jersey. While the state’s Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program has helped some primary care providers remain in the state post-residency, additional resources are necessary to forestall a potential physician shortage. In order to ensure a pipeline of healthcare providers in our state, especially those interested in specializing in gerontology, geriatrics, and dementia care, we must encourage our legislature to increase funding to our state's Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program as it is a crucial step in protecting our geriatric communities throughout the state.
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
June 08, 2020
Join the Alzheimer's Association in Trenton on June 8th for our State Advocacy Day, and help us turn New Jersey's State House purple! Learn more about our state policy priorities, network with fellow advocates and meet with elected officials to communicate the needs of New Jerseyans impacted by Alzheimer's. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates and more information about the day!
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in New Jersey
State Affairs Contact Phil Echevarria | 908-812-0435 | [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 | 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.