West Virginia
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Support Implementation and Updates to the State Alzheimer’s Plan
West Virginia published a State Alzheimer’s Plan after discussions with multiple stakeholders to outline how the state can address Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state leaders to continue to prioritize regular updates and implementation to the State Alzheimer’s Plan to support people with dementia and their family caregiver. West Virginia must focus on addressing Alzheimer’s as a public health crisis; building a dementia capable workforce; increasing access to home and community-based services; and improving the quality of care in residential settings.
Prioritize Long-Term Care in the Response to COVID-19
The pandemic has exposed gaps in the provision of long-term care (LTC) in West Virginia. As the state continues its response, the Alzheimer’s Association is urging state policymakers to prioritize LTC, focusing on testing; reporting; surge activation; and providing support. This includes providing LTC communities with access to rapid testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) so residents and their families can safely reunite, as well as ensuring that outbreaks are reported and that long-term care is included in the state’s emergency preparedness and response plans.
West Virginia State Plan Overview
In 2011, the West Virginia legislature directed and funded the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the needs, challenges, and issues facing West Virginians living with Alzheimer's disease and their families through the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 38. Three work groups spearheaded development of policy and program recommendations. The work groups included health care providers, families impacted by Alzheimer's, public health officials, state legislators, and researchers as well as representatives from local businesses, long-term care providers, state agencies, and community organizations. In December 2011, the state Alzheimer's plan, Make a Plan for Alzheimer's in West Virginia was published.
West Virginia State Advocacy Day
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Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in West Virginia
State Affairs Contact Trey Addison | 937-470-1033 | [email protected]
Number of People Aged 65 and Older With Alzheimer's by Age
| Year | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85+ | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7,000 | 18,000 | 15,000 | 39,000 |
| 2025 | 7,000 | 21,000 | 16,000 | 44,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$445
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
17.1%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$24,762
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)
| 791 | total deaths in West Virginia |
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.