Wyoming
Increase Public Awareness, Early Detection And Diagnosis
Increase Access to Medical Care and the Early Detection of Alzheimer's
Early detection gives time to people to plan for the journey ahead. But detecting Alzheimer’s early enough to make a difference is difficult in Wyoming because of the state’s issues with access to medical care. No one should be denied a diagnosis and a plan just because they live hours away from the nearest doctor. It is critical that the state invests in promoting telemedicine across the state and ensure every doctor and patient can take advantage of this technology no matter where they live in Wyoming.
Enhance the Quality of Care in Residential Settings
Wyoming has now modified the use of the MMSE to Allow People with Dementia to Live in the Most Appropriate Care Setting
Too often, Wyomingites who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or other related dementias were forced out of assisted living and memory care facilities to facilities across the state or out-of-state because of a one size fits all test (the Mini-Mental State Exam) that didn't accurately reflect the needs of our loved ones. But thanks to the efforts of our advocates, Wyoming has now adjusted the tool used to assess cognitive impairment to ensure that otherwise healthy patients aren't pushed unnecessarily into the highest levels of care.
Wyoming State Plan Overview
The Alzheimer's Association Wyoming Chapter worked with the Wyoming Division of Aging and a group of key stakeholders, at the direction of then-Governor Matt Mead, to develop the first Wyoming State Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementia. The Work Group was established in 2015 and current members include representatives from hospital systems, physician groups, long-term care providers, the University of Wyoming Center on Aging, the Division of Aging within the Department of Health, and the governor's office. The Work Group hosted town halls across the state to receive public input as part of their comprehensive, statewide needs assessment. The final plan — Wyoming State Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias — was released in October 2018. If you would like to participate in this process please contact the Alzheimer's Association's Wyoming Chapter.
Wyoming State Advocacy Day
February 17, 2020
Advocates from across Wyoming came to Cheyenne for the Alzheimer's Association's 2020 Day at the Capitol on February 17th. The team of dedicated volunteers talked with more than 50 state lawmakers in just a span of a few hours. Those conversations led to the passage of two major bills for the 10,000 Wyomingites living with Alzheimer's and their 28,000 unpaid caregivers!
Sign Up to Learn More About Advocacy Opportunities in Wyoming
State Affairs Contact Ramsey Scott | 307-201-9596 | [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 | 2,000 | 5,000 | 4,000 | 10,000 |
| 2025 | 2,000 | 6,000 | 5,000 | 13,000 |
Percentage change from 2020
Medicaid
$86
MILLION
Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's (2020)
28.8%
change in costs from 2020 to 2025
Medicare
$21,815
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)
| 277 | total deaths in Wyoming | |
| 5th | leading cause of death in Wyoming | |
| 9th | highest Alzheimer's death rate in America | |
| 172% | 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.