Oklahoma
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Educating for Wellness through Medical Practices and Providers
The Oklahoma Chapter will work diligently to educate health care providers about the Medicare Wellness Visit availability, the tools they can use to test for cognitive impairment.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Building Knowledge and Awareness through Public Service Announcements on local media
Because the State of Oklahoma is concerned about Dementia the Department of Health will be providing space in their PSA rotation for us to insert information regarding Alzheimer's Dementia.
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Data Gathering is Imperative to Address Cognitive Impairment in Oklahoma
Historically not much has been done to truly learn how Oklahomans are affected by Cognitive Impairment. The more we know, the more we'll know pull partners together for the future.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Using Self Determination to Save Ourselves From The Neurological Desert
For many years Oklahoma has been considered a "Neurological Desert." That fact was confirmed in a 2017 study indicating Oklahoma was one of 5 Neurological Deserts in the nation. Families in Oklahoma often have to wait as long as a year to see a neurologist. The wait is mostly due to a shortage of neurologists practicing in Oklahoma. Offering an incentive and program through the Oklahoma Physician Manpower Training Commission and using Project Echo to serve the rural areas may serve as a way to attract neurologists to the state or to retain newly-trained neurology practitioners. This would also encourage medical systems to place neurology recruitment higher upon their list of priority recruitment.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
How Do You Wish to Have Your Loved One Treated?
Oklahoma is one of the few states not requiring any continuing education for Hospice and other direct care workers. Since many of our loved ones spend time in hospice, even before the last stages of the disease, hospice workers are not asked to participate in continuing education. We are advocating that hospice workers receive at least one hour of continued education every year.
Build a Dementia-Capable Workforce
Oklahoma Protective Services - Ensuring Those We Depend on Understand Alzheimer's and other Dementias
Much of what Adult Protective Services (APS) workers encounter are issues dealing with cognitively impaired individuals. Many of these are people with dementia and there are certain ways to approach these individuals to lessen the opportunity for injury or death. APS professionals will be taught how to interact with Dementia patients which will protect both the patient and the APS professional from harm.
Increase Access to Home and Community-Based Services
Daily Survival - Using Respite to Care for your Loved Ones and Yourself
We urge the Oklahoma Legislature to immediately conduct an interim study to develop approaches to ensure there are adequate respite and adult day centers operating in Oklahoma.
Enhance the Quality of Care in Residential Settings
Pay Now or Pay Later - Reframing the Medicaid Discussion
The Alzheimer's Association recognizes the importance of Medicaid serving those with Alzheimer's and other dementias. We support a committment to Medicaid in Oklahoma in order to ensure access to care and support for individuals with Alzheimer's. With the increasing number of people with Alzheimer's, additional federal Medicaid funds are available through a thoughtful plan in partnership with the federal government. While funds are not abundant, with 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 everyday in the United States, we support a conscious effort to fully fund Medicaid at the State level
Advance Alzheimer's Policy
Standardization of Certified Nurses Aide Curriculum Statewide
In order to make sure all care providers in Oklahoma are receiving the same up to date information the State Health Department, working with the Alzheimer's Association has developed the necessary components for the 10 hours of training necessary for dementia in the CNA program.
Advance Alzheimer's Policy
You Plan to Fail If You Fail to Plan
With significant planning efforts groups can come together and share information and activities which creates a plan for legislators and rule making bodies to use as a guide to help Oklahomans with Cognitive Impairment
Oklahoma State Plan Overview
In May 2008, the Task Force on the Effect of Alzheimer's Disease was established pursuant to Senate Bill 2186. Tasked with examining the impact of Alzheimer's disease and mapping a plan of action within the state, the Task Force included representatives from the private sector, community organizations, and state agencies as well as caregivers, state legislators, and individuals living with Alzheimer's. In September 2009 The Final Report of the Task Force on the Effect of Alzheimer's Disease in Oklahoma was published. In 2015, Governor Mary Fallin issued Executive Order 2015-32 to authorize an update to the state plan. The Oklahoma Alzheimer's State Plan 2016 was published in February 2016.
Oklahoma State Advocacy Day
March 12, 2019
The Oklahoma Advocacy Day presents an opportunity for advocates to come to Oklahoma City and interact with your Legislator, but gives the Oklahoma Chapter the opportunity to report on activities and provide up to date information on how Alzheimer's is affecting Oklahoma.
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 Oklahoma
State Affairs Contact Randle Lee | (405) 819-3427 | [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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 10,000 | 29,000 | 26,000 | 65,000 |
| 2025 | 12,000 | 36,000 | 28,000 | 76,000 |
Percentage change from 2019
Medicaid
$499
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2019)
20.9%
change in costs from 2019 to 2025
Medicare
$25,175
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)
| 6th | leading cause of death in Oklahoma |
| 175% | increase in Alzheimer's deaths since 2000 |
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.