Colorado State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview

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The Colorado Alzheimers Coordinating Council (CACC) was authorized by the state legislature in 2008 with the passage of Senate Bill 08-058. Members included representatives from state agencies, the state legislature, care providers, family caregivers, persons living with the disease, and the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimers Association. Tasked with creating a state plan on Alzheimers, the CACC focused on Colorados current public and private capacity to address Alzheimers, identify service and support gaps, and make recommendations to improve the care of those living with the disease, their caregivers and their families. The Colorado State Alzheimer Disease Plan: A Roadmap for Alzheimers Disease Caregiving and Family Support Policies was published in November 2010.

In 2022 through a community-informed process, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and ADRD Advisory Committee released the Colorado Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) State Plan. The new State Plan outlines actions for the next five years to enhance risk reduction and early diagnosis, and to improve the lives of persons living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia and their caregivers.

Colorado 2023 Policy Priorities

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Strengthen the Dementia Care Workforce

Colorado is expected to see a 21% increase in the number of people age 65 and older living with dementia between 2020 and 2025. To ensure Coloradans can be appropriately diagnosed, the state must have a robust workforce that is knowledgeable about dementia to effectively care for this growing population. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to expand geriatric training for health care professionals in institutions of higher education across the state.

 

Find My Chapter

Together, we’re making an impact. Find an Alzheimers Association chapter in your community for more ways to engage.

Contact Us

State Affairs Contact: Coral Cosway 

Phone: 720.699.9276

Email: ccosway@alz.org

76,000

people living with Alzheimer’s in Colorado

159,000

Coloradans are providing unpaid care

$635 Million

Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)

184 Million

increase in Alzheimer’s deaths since 2000

15%

in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia

201.0%

increase of geriatricians in Colorado needed to meet the demand in 2050