New Mexico
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Encourage Public Health Officials to Engage Physicians and Promote Early Detection and Diagnosis
New Mexicans experiencing early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, particularly those living in rural or semi-rural communities, face a serious risk of not being adequately assessed or properly diagnosed by their health care providers. In fact, only about half of people with Alzheimer’s have received a diagnosis. This is because many providers lack general awareness of the tools and resources available to them to perform an assessment or diagnosis of the disease. While there are many benefits and strong reasons for state public health officials to support a solution to this need, among the most notable is that early detection may reduce the draw on the state Medicaid budget by avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits by people struggling with dementia symptoms. State public health officials can change the trajectory and improve access to care planning and diagnosis by educating health care providers on the importance of early detection and timely diagnosis of cognitive impairment, validated cognitive assessment tools, the value of a Medicare Annual Wellness visit for cognitive health, and the new Medicare care planning billing code for individuals with cognitive impairment.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Incorporate Culturally Appropriate Messaging to Promote Brain Health for All New Mexicans
Native Americans and Hispanics make up a large percentage of the state’s overall population and are more at risk to develop Alzheimer’s and other dementias, yet these groups are under-served when it comes to receiving information that promotes brain health. Please join us in encouraging New Mexico's health officials to help promote brain health with culturally appropriate messaging by investing in a robust public health campaign targeted at populations with increased risk for developing the disease.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Strengthen New Mexico's Direct Care Workforce
Individuals with Alzheimer’s or other dementias have needs that often make care delivery challenging and demanding. Direct care workers often do not have sufficient dementia-specific knowledge to effectively support those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To ensure all New Mexicans with dementia have access to high quality care, the Alzheimer’s Association is working with state partners toward recommendations that require dementia training for direct care workers.
Increase Access to Home and Community-Based Services
Support New Mexico's Family Caregivers, Increase Funding for Alzheimer's Respite Care
Data estimates there are around 110,000 unpaid family caregivers to people living with Alzheimer’s in New Mexico. The Alzheimer’s Association is proud to be a partner with the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department to administer reimbursements payments for respite care to caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s. However, this issue will need more partners at the table if we are to meet this growing need. Funding to increase investment in existing programs available for caregivers and financial support to build out a larger network of access points in rural and suburban communities is a necessary step in the right direction to ensure ALL New Mexicans have access to respite care. Please join us in advocating for increased funding that will provide more respite care to more New Mexicans.
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 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.
New Mexico State Advocacy Day
February 05, 2020
The Alzheimer's Association's 2020 state advocacy and awareness event at the Capitol was a huge success. Advocates from across the state turned Santa Fe purple as they shared their personal stories with lawmakers, and heard strong messages of support for our cause from members of the state legislature and high ranking officials from the state Aging and Long Term Services Department. Several advocates were introduced on the floor of the Senate and recognized for their outstanding dedication. The day concluded with advocates meeting with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to discuss state policy priorities that would help those living with Alzheimer's and caregivers.
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in New Mexico
State Affairs Contact Tommy Hernandez | 505-604-4554 | [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 | 7,000 | 19,000 | 17,000 | 43,000 |
| 2025 | 9,000 | 25,000 | 19,000 | 53,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$227
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
22.9%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$22,711
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)
| 583 | total deaths in New Mexico |
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.