Alzheimer's Association heralds state's dementia-capabable government

A dementia-capable government exists in Maryland with the signing of HB 166/ SB27 on May 16, 2022, by Governor Larry Hogan—making Maryland the 17th state to implement a dementia department. The allocation of $3.5 million to the state’s 2023 fiscal budget funds the creation of the Maryland Department of Health director’s position and a department of Dementia Services and Brain Health. The department will facilitate statewide communication of dementia services. Championing funding for this effort were Senator Ron Young, Senator Melony G. Griffith, Senator Guy Guzzone and Delegate Maggie McIntosh.

More than 6 million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, which kills more people each year than breast cancer and prostate cancer COMBINED as the nation’s sixth leading cause of death.

The mission of the department of Dementia Services and Brain Health

The director of Dementia Services and Brain Health coordinates the distribution of services that affect individuals with dementia, their caregivers and families. Additional responsibilities include implementing the Maryland Alzheimer’s State Plan that manages the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Council (formerly known as the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Council), making it a permanent body. David McShea, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Maryland Chapter, and Ana Nelson, vice president of programs services, of the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter, authored the Council report that was last updated in 2016.

The Council must issue and publish an update to the State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias by September 1, 2022, requiring updates every five years. Senator Malcolm Augustine and Speaker Pro Tem Sheree Sample-Hughes supported the initiative.

The impact of Alzheimer’s disease in Maryland

The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report for Maryland shows the cost of 371,000,000 hours of unpaid caregiving in 2021 is valued at $6,810,00,00. The emotional toll of caregiving finds that 68.8 percent have chronic health conditions, 27.7 percent have depression, and 13.6 percent have poor physical health.

“Having a state-governed department assess Alzheimer’s services for the more than 110,000 Marylanders living with the disease and their 242,000 caregivers ensures greater access to care and support services,” says McShea. Nelson states, “"The priorities set forth in the Dementia State Plan are the combined efforts of partners and stakeholders across Maryland to help ensure we focus on meeting the needs of a growing diversified population that is affected by dementia.” Alzheimer’s and other dementia affect African Americans at twice the rate as white and Latinos at one and a half times the rate as whites.

The need for a dementia-capable workforce

To build a dementia-capable workforce, Dementia Services and Brain Health will identify and support the development of dementia-specific training. Currently, Maryland has 24,000 home health and personal care aides who are not required to have standardized training. Within three years, it is estimated that Marylanders living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia will grow to 130,000—an estimated 18.2 percent increase. To meet the projected demand for a dementia-capable workforce, a 42.4 percent increase in trained employees is needed by 2028.

As the disease progresses, remaining in the home becomes less feasible. In 2017, 4,072 people (17 percent of residents) in hospice care had dementia. In 2018, there were 1,524 emergency room visits per 1,000 people. Insert quote about how raising awareness improves outcomes.

In 2018, 1,524 emergency room visits were made by 1,000 people with dementia, having a 24.4 percent readmission rate. Medicaid costs of care for people with Alzheimer’s in 20202 were $1.231 billion, with a projected increase in cost to 24.7 percent by 2025. Maryland’s Medicare per capita spending on people with dementia in 2021 was $32,017. In 2019, 1,012 Maryland deaths were caused by Alzheimer’s deaths. Insert quote about how accessing services for financial and healthcare planning can reduce costs to the individual and the state.

Information about Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. The 24/7 Helpline, 800.272.3900, provides information on care and support.

All provided statistics are from the Alzheimer’s Association 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report.