New Mexico
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Empowering Health Care Providers to Support Individuals with Alzheimer's and Other Dementias
Data collection and thorough research show the importance of supporting individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementias early and health care providers play a critical role in ensuring early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Health care providers can support people with Alzheimer's by using validated cognitive assessment tools, taking advantage of the value of a Medicare Annual Wellness visit for cognitive health and utilizing the new Medicare care planning billing code for individuals with cognitive impairment. The Alzheimer's Association has developed a multi-year strategy to ensure the healthcare provider community is aware of these opportunities to improve outcomes and the quality of patient care. We will work with state agencies to form meaningful partnerships and to help secure appropriately leveled resources to fulfill this provider education initiative.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Providing Alzheimer's Education in New Mexico for New Mexico
Alzheimer's affects Hispanic and Native Americans at a higher rate than other ethnic groups. With a high Hispanic and Native American population in New Mexico, the Alzheimer's Association, NM Chapter is working to partner with state agencies to produce and disseminate culturally-appropriate public health campaigns for our entire state to increase the understanding and drive awareness of early warning signs of Alzheimer's and other dementias, as well as to share the value of early detection and diagnosis.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Measuring the Impact of Alzheimer's in New Mexico
Surveillance (also called data collection) is an essential public health tool for understanding the prevalence of Alzheimer's in New Mexico and the Alzheimer Association, New Mexico Chapter uses the data collected from a statewide survey to drive necessary policy changes. Each year the state Department of Health conducts a statewide survey called the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to collect data, and gain key insights on public health issues, like Alzheimer's. The Alzheimer's Association, New Mexico Chapter is working with the Department of Health to have a caregiver module or cognitive decline module of questions included in the next survey to better understand the impact of Alzheimer's in our home state. The data gained through the BRFSS survey is critical to helping state public health officials understand the growing prevalence of this disease, and to help elected officials and policymakers determine an effective strategy.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Preparing our Health Care Workforce to Address Alzheimer's
New Mexico's percentage of population age 65 and older will jump from 29th to the 4th largest in the nation. The critical need to build a robust healthcare workforce that specializes in gerontology, geriatrics, and dementia care must be addressed now to prevent a shortage crisis of these workers. To prevent this scenario, we will be aggressively engaging with our state legislature and other government officials, along with education institutions and the private sector, to create a pipeline that bolsters and sustains a future workforce in these areas of healthcare.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Enhancing the Care of Individuals with Alzheimer's
New Mexico workers in dementia care and patients receiving this care would benefit greatly from a state policy that enhances the current training regulations of all direct service, administrative, supervisory, and other staff who are involved in the delivery of care to those with Alzheimer's and other dementias in licensed long-term care facilities, the home, and adult day settings. The need for this policy adoption is critical as seniors with Alzheimer's and other dementias have, on average, twice as many hospitalizations each year and four times as many skilled nursing facility stays as seniors without Alzheimer's. To address this, we will engage and collaborate with partners across all areas of care delivery in the healthcare system to advocate for this necessary regulatory change to build a complete, competent and well trained workforce.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Preparing Adult Protective Services to Serve People with Alzheimer's
The Association works with first responders and Adult Protective Service Workers to provide them with proven training and education that helps to ensure safe and professional interactions when dealing with someone who shows signs of Alzheimer’s. In New Mexico, we are working with leaders of the first responder community and APS workers to implement this necessary training.
Increase Access to Home and Community-Based Services
Supporting Individuals with Alzheimer's Through Increased Medicaid Services
Sufficient coverage of a core set of person-centered, dementia-competent, and dementia-specific home and community-based services has the potential to be cost effective on state resources while also being supportive of the dignity of those affected who prefer to stay in their community and in their home while receiving care. The Alzheimer's Association, NM Chapter understands this and will actively pursue - working with its partners in the public and private sector - strategic ways expand access to Medicaid eligible home and community based services.
Enhance the Quality of Care in Residential Settings
Reviewing Reimbursement Rates to Improve Quality of Care
Alzheimer's and other dementias drive the cost burden for residential facilities who care for people afflicted by the disease up significantly. This is why the Alzheimer's Association, New Mexico Chapter understands that maintaining Medicaid reimbursement rates and payment structures at appropriate levels are central to ensuring quality care. The Chapter actively engages in discussions with its partner organizations to regularly review reimbursement rates.
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 related dementias within the state. The Task Force was comprised of individuals from 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 inform plan recommendations, the Task Force published the New Mexico State Plan for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in 2013.
New Mexico State Advocacy Day
January 30, 2019
The Alzheimer's Association, New Mexico Chapter is excited to extend an open invitation to all to join us on January 30 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. The full day will be dedicated to engaging state legislators on the key legislative proposals the Chapter supports, while a special press conference featuring guest speakers and remarks from our executive director will take place frorm 10am-11am. Please contact the Chapter director for more information.
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 New Mexico
State Affairs Contact Tommy Hernandez | 5056044554 | [email protected]
Elected Officials
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Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6,800 | 18,000 | 16,000 | 41,000 |
| 2025 | 8,500 | 25,000 | 19,000 | 53,000 |
Percentage change from 2019
Medicaid
$207
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2019)
33.3%
change in costs from 2019 to 2025
Medicare
$21,920
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)
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.