Support Funding to Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection and Diagnosis
With over 43,000 New Mexicans living with Alzheimer’s and many more not diagnosed, Alzheimer’s is a public health crisis in New Mexico. Educating 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 supports the $1 million increase in funding for Alzheimer’s initiatives in the Aging and Long-Term Services Department’s budget. The funds will be used primarily on public awareness, early detection and diagnosis campaigns, with an emphasis on culturally sensitive outreach intended for the state’s Hispanic and American Indian communities, as well as to clinicians to grow their understanding on the importance of early detection and diagnosis. To ensure ongoing education efforts, the Alzheimer’s Association is urging legislators to continue this funding
New Mexico State Plan Overview
In 2012, the Alzheimer's Disease Task Force established by House Memorial 20 was convened by the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department to assess the impact of, and make recommendations for, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias within the state. The Task Force was comprised of leaders of state agencies, health care providers, caregivers, individuals living with the disease, as well as representatives from academia and tribal organizations. After collecting input from public town hall meetings to gather plan recommendations, the Task Force published the New Mexico State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in 2013.
In 2014, the state established the State Dementia Plan Leadership Team and the Office of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care within the NM Aging and Long-Term Services Department. The Leadership Team worked to determine priorities and establish subcommittees to oversee state plan implementation. In 2016, a larger group of stakeholders was convened to analyze current dementia related data and assess the state’s progress on State Plan implementation ultimately producing the 2017 State Plan Update.
New Mexico State Advocacy Day
February 04, 2022
Join fellow Alzheimer’s advocates to virtually rally state lawmakers on February 4th to support funding to increase public awareness, early detection, and diagnosis. Advocates will come together to hear from state leaders, understand the Alzheimer’s Association’s leading asks during the legislative session and meet with state legislators to share their story and urge support of these critical priorities. Never advocated before? No problem! We’ll train you and there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions before meeting with state officials. You won’t want to miss this legislative advocacy event!
