Louisiana State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In 2008, the Louisiana Legislature created the Louisiana Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force through the enactment of Senate Concurrent Resolution 80 to study the impact of Alzheimer's within the state and make recommendations to meet the growing issues presented by the disease. The Task Force included representatives from state agencies, care associations, long-term care providers, and community organizations as well as caregivers, state legislators, and individuals directly impacted by the disease. The Task Force presented their final report, The Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease in Louisiana: A Report by the Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force, to the Louisiana Legislature and Governor's Office in October 2009. Following receipt of a federal BOLD grant, Well-Ahead Louisiana, a chronic disease prevention and health care access initiative of the Louisiana Department of Health, published an update to the state plan for 2023-2028. The state plan encompasses four issue areas, each containing specific goals aimed at tackling the challenges posed by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
Louisiana 2025 Policy Priorities
Support Caregivers Through a Dementia Care Specialist Program
Dementia can cause unique challenges — both for people living with the condition and their caregivers. Individuals diagnosed or caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s have to navigate a complex network of resources and benefits to meet their care needs. With over 94,000 Louisianans living with Alzheimer’s today, and that figure expected to grow, Louisiana needs a stronger infrastructure for providing accessible support to individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state legislators to appropriate $910,000 to establish a statewide Dementia Care Specialists Program. This program will be administered through Louisiana’s Aging and Disability Resource Centers and will bring dementia-specific expertise to local communities. Dementia care specialists will focus on providing caregiver support and community education, increasing awareness, and building partnerships with local health care providers and practitioners.
Louisiana State Advocacy Day
Join advocates in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 for State Advocacy Day! Advocates will turn the State Capitol purple as they meet with state lawmakers and state agency officials to raise awareness for our critical priorities that will support people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
Sign Up to Learn About Advocacy Opportunities in Louisiana
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: Tatiana Gonzalez Quiroga
Phone: 504.662.9314
Email: [email protected]
94,700
people living with Alzheimer’s in Louisiana
168,000
Louisianans are providing unpaid care
$765 Million
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
161.5%
increase in Alzheimer’s deaths 2000-2021
19%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
538.7%
increase of geriatricians in Louisiana needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in Louisiana
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 Louisiana policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.