New York State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview 

Support
Wysiwyg

The New York State Coordinating Council for Services Related to Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias was established in 2007 by Public Health Law § 2004-a (Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2007, Part B). The Council was formed to facilitate interagency planning and policymaking, review specific agency initiatives for their impact on the care of people living with dementia and their families, and provide a continuing forum for discussions related to creating a comprehensive state policy for Alzheimer’s disease. Charged with providing reports to the governor and the legislature every two years beginning in June 2009, the Council provides policy recommendations for addressing the Alzheimer’s crisis and a review of services to meet the needs of people living with dementia and their families. In December 2009, New York released its first state Alzheimer’s plan, the Annual Report of the New York State Coordinating Council for Services Related to Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, with updated reports published every two years thereafter. New York released the most recent report in 2019, the 2019 Report of the New York State Coordinating Council for Services Related to Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias.

New York 2023 Policy Priorities

An image of Asian Sons Outside with Mother and Walker
Wysiwyg

Increase Funding for the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative

The Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative (ADCSI) provides support and services for all people impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia including people living with the disease, caregivers, medical and health care professionals, and community partners. The Alzheimer’s Association is advocating for a $2.5 million increase in funding through the AlzCap grant for the Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Support Initiative to promote a greater awareness and understanding of dementia across the state with a focus on the value of early detection of diagnosis for New Yorkers.

 

Wysiwyg

Establish Special Needs Assisted Living Programs 

Alzheimer’s often causes individuals to exhibit disruptive behaviors that sometimes prevents them from living in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. With no facility willing to take in these individuals and home and community-based services is not an option, caregivers sometimes find themselves having to move their loved one with dementia to an out-of-state facility. The Alzheimer’s Association and advocates are calling on state legislators to establish, license, and regulate special needs assisted living residences under the Department of Health to serve and protect people living with Alzheimer’s, other dementia, and neurodegenerative diseases. 

 

Wysiwyg

Increase Funding for the Special Needs Assisted Living Voucher Demonstration Program

The Special Needs Assisted Living Voucher Demonstration Program offers vouchers for financial assistance to help pay for costly memory care for the 410,000 New Yorkers living with Alzheimer’s. Currently, the state only has 200 vouchers and a growing waitlist for the program. The Alzheimer’s Association is advocating for increased funding in the amount of $9 million for the Special Needs Assisted Living Voucher Program. With increased funding, the state can provide more vouchers to New Yorkers in need and help reduce the financial burden of Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

 

Masked doctor with patient
Wysiwyg

Incorporate Dementia in New York’s Master Plan for Aging 

The Master Plan for Aging works to ensure that older New Yorkers and individuals of all ages live in a safe, healthy environment and can age with dignity and independence. The Master Plan will address social determinants of health, Medicaid and Medicare funding, family caregivers, challenges in health care workforce, and more. Many of the included topics affect people living with dementia, but special attention to this population is critical. The Alzheimer’s Association is advocating for the incorporation of dementia within key topics of the Master Plan to better serve the growing number of New York residents living with dementia and their caregivers.

Find My Chapter

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

Contact Us

State Affairs Contact: Bill Gustafson

Phone: 518.252.0517

Email: bcgustafson@alz.org

410,000

people living with Alzheimer’s in New York

563,000

New Yorkers are providing unpaid care

$5.5 Billion

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

835 Million

increase in Alzheimer’s deaths since 2000

16%

in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia

44.0%

increase of geriatricians in New York needed to meet the demand in 2050