South Carolina State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In June 2008, the South Carolina General Assembly created the Purple Ribbon Task Force by passing Senate Concurrent Resolution 1333 to study the current and future impact of Alzheimer’s disease within the state, assess resources for those impacted by Alzheimer’s, and develop a strategy to meet the needs of South Carolinians. Housed in the lieutenant governor’s Office on Aging, the Purple Ribbon Task Force included representatives from state health and aging agencies, law enforcement, research institutions, long-term care agencies as well as health care providers and state legislators. In March 2009, the Task Force published Conquering the Specter of Alzheimer’s Disease in South Carolina.
South Carolina 2023 Policy Priorities
Prioritize Dementia Planning within the Department of Aging
For a successful state response to the growing number of South Carolinians with dementia, comprehensive planning and coordination among state agencies and departments is critical. State Alzheimer’s Plans provide a pathway for state governments to ensure the needs of the dementia population in their states are being met. The Alzheimer’s Association is advocating for the South Carolina Alzheimer's and Related Dementia Resource Coordination Center (ARDRCC) to be responsible for implementing and updating the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia State Plan. By establishing one entity responsible for dementia initiatives, this will ensure the state has a more coordinated approach to addressing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Expand Funding for Dementia Research
Investing in Alzheimer's and dementia research will lead to innovative strategies, the ability to participate in clinical trials, and workforce development in South Carolina. The Alzheimer’s Association is working with the three major research institutions in South Carolina to advocate for a $7 million appropriation to the three universities to strengthen dementia research, create opportunities to secure research grants, and ensure South Carolina can benefit from the development of new treatments.
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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: Taylor Wilson
Phone: 803.509.7354
Email: twilson@alz.org
95,000
people living with Alzheimer’s in South Carolina
197,000
South Carolinians are providing unpaid care
$652 Million
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
296 Million
increase in Alzheimer’s deaths since 2000
20%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
336.4%
increase of geriatricians in South Carolina needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in South Carolina
The following resources developed by AIM and the Alzheimer’s Association will help you learn more about the issues impacting people living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, how South Carolina policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.