Idaho State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In 2012, the Idaho Legislature established the Idaho Alzheimer’s Planning Group through passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 112. Tasked with determining how the state could best assist individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, the Planning Group included representatives from state agencies, advocacy agencies, academia, and community organizations as well as researchers, caregivers, individuals affected by Alzheimer's, and the governor. After conducting a year-long state assessment and soliciting input from community stakeholders and the public-at-large, A State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Addressing the Needs of Idahoans with ADRD, Their Caregivers, and Family Members was released. The Idaho legislature endorsed the statewide plan with the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 34 in 2013. In 2021, a statewide ADRD Alliance was formed to revise the state Alzheimer’s plan. In March 2023 following a 13 month development period, the 2023-2028 ADRD Strategic Plan for Idaho was published. The updated plan identifies gaps between the needs of people living with dementia and services available and details short and long-term goals for the next five years. To ensure the next state Alzheimer’s plan reflects best practices and the current needs of residents in the state, SB 1096 (Chapter 151 of 2023) was enacted, requiring the Department of Health and Welfare to convene the ADRD Alliance every five years to update the state Alzheimer’s plan.
Idaho 2025 Policy Priorities
Establish a Dementia Council
Idaho is home to more than 30,000 people living with Alzheimer’s and 66,000 unpaid caregivers. With the population of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia growing each year, coordination and collaboration among state agencies and external stakeholders is critical to address this disease effectively. Establishing an Alzheimer’s council can help identify and address issues by developing state-specific solutions. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state policymakers to pass legislation to establish the Alzheimer’s council, ensuring that dementia is a priority in Idaho.
Empower Law Enforcement Officers with Dementia Training
Law enforcement officers often interact with people living with dementia while intervening in crisis or disaster situations. Individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia may present as uncooperative when they have difficulty communicating and understanding what is happening, and officers may not know how to interact with individuals in these situations, potentially leading to dangerous situations. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging Idaho policymakers to require law enforcement officers receive training on how to recognize and respond to dementia-related behaviors.
Sign Up to Learn About Advocacy Opportunities in Idaho
Find My Chapter
Together, we’re making an impact. Find an Alzheimer’s Association chapter in your community for more ways to engage.
29,900
people living with Alzheimer’s in Idaho
66,000
Idahoans are providing unpaid care
$149 Million
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
201.1%
increase in Alzheimer’s deaths 2000-2021
17%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
987.5%
increase of geriatricians in Idaho needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in Idaho
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 Idaho policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.