Nevada
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Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Include Alzheimer's in Public Health Messaging
According to our Alzheimer’s Facts & Figures data, Nevada has the third-highest growth rate of Alzheimer’s Disease in the United States. Due to this alarming figure, it is imperative that we partner with state administrators and policymakers to effectively distribute information about available services, both state and private, within the State of Nevada. Currently, Nevada’s Department of Public and Behavioral Health lists a number of resources for chronic diseases. We at the Alzheimer’s Association seek to include Alzheimer’s Disease into that public resource database.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Increase the Dementia Care Workforce in Nevada
Nevada is experiencing a severe shortage of geriatricians and neurologists. Currently, Nevada is estimated to have just 40 geriatricians across the entire state and will need to increase that number by nearly 300% by 2050 in order to meet the growing number of residents with dementia. In 2017, Nevada was among 20 states considered a neurology desert reflecting the shortage of neurologists as well. Without access to a geriatrician or neurologist, Nevadans may not receive a timely diagnosis of dementia which would then delay access to care and available treatments. Since medical student debt is a contributing factor to the physician shortage, the Alzheimer’s Association is working with state policymakers to establish a student loan forgiveness program for Nevadans who commit to specializing in geriatrics or neurology.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Ensure First Responders Receive Dementia Training
Law enforcement officers, first responders and Adult Protective Services workers have frequent interactions with individuals who have Alzheimer’s and other dementias in a variety of settings and often in crisis situations. However, these professionals often have little or no formal education regarding the unique needs of people living with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association is encouraging the legislature to establish an initial and ongoing dementia training requirement for these first responders to best serve people with dementia.
Increase Access to Home and Community-Based Services
Support Family Caregivers in Nevada
Over 150,000 Nevadans are currently serving as caregivers for loved ones with dementia enabling them to remain at home. The burden on these caregivers, however, can be felt emotionally and financially. Nevada has a respite care program to support caregivers of people with dementia but there are more caregivers than funds allow. This will only grow as the number of people with dementia continues to rise. The Alzheimer's Association is working with legislators to increase the total funding for dementia-specific respite to better benefit Nevada’s caregivers.
Nevada State Plan Overview
The Nevada state legislature passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 10 in 2011, creating the Legislative Committee on Health Care's Task Force to Develop a State Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. The Committee included a state Senator as chair and medical experts, advocates, and other key stakeholders. After soliciting public feedback, the State Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease was published in January 2013. The Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease (TFAD) was created within the Department of Health and Human Services with the passage of Assembly Bill 80 in the 2013 Legislative Session. The Task Force is responsible for implementing the State Plan.
Nevada State Advocacy Day
May 12, 2020
Please join us at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on May 12, 2020 as we discuss the challenges and potential solutions facing tNevada when it comes to introducing and modernizing a Dementia Capable Workforce. We will hear from state officials and research experts. The event is free to attend and will be held in the UNLV Student Union Theater. Please join us and be part of the discussion. For more information please email Marco Valera, [email protected]
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in Nevada
State Affairs Contact James Fitzpatrick | | [email protected]
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10,000 | 23,000 | 16,000 | 49,000 |
| 2025 | 12,000 | 31,000 | 20,000 | 64,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$203
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
36.5%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$34,875
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)
| 704 | total deaths in Nevada | |
| 6th | leading cause of death in Nevada | |
| 261% | increase in Alzheimer's deaths since 2000 |
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.