Massachusetts State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In 2010, Governor Deval Patrick directed the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter, to draft a state plan addressing Alzheimer’s disease within the state. In response, these two agencies convened an Advisory Committee that included families and individuals impacted by the disease as well as representatives from state and local health and human services agencies, councils on aging, academia, public safety agencies, and professional caregiver associations. Gathering public input, the Advisory Committee published the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders State Plan in February 2012. Following 2018 legislation (Chapter 220 of the Acts of 2018), a new State Alzheimer’s Plan was released in April 2021.
Massachusetts 2025 Policy Priorities
Support a Dementia-Capable State Infrastructure
Alzheimer’s prevalence is expected to increase 25% in Massachusetts over the next decade. To strengthen Massachusetts’s capability to support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, a robust state government response is needed. Establishing a full-time Dementia Services Coordinator Position at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services dedicated to supporting dementia initiatives across the state can help mitigate the growing impact of the disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to also establish the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias, ensure the collection and publication of dementia-specific data, require dementia-specific training for all first responders, and improve required plans for safe discharges from acute care hospitals for all individuals living with dementia.
Improve Access to Biomarker Testing
With the historic Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of treatments that slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in the early stages, early detection and diagnosis are even more critical to ensure individuals receive the most benefit at the earliest point possible. Biomarkers offer one of the most promising paths to improve dementia detection, diagnosis and treatment. Yet these critical tests remain out of reach for many as insurance coverage is failing to keep pace with innovations and advancements in treatments. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to expand insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing. Without this legislation, dementia diagnoses may take up to two years, increasing the long-term costs to the individual, family and the state.
Massachusetts State Advocacy Day
Join us to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementia while building relationships with our Massachusetts state legislators! At the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Massachusetts Advocacy Day, you'll hear from our legislative champions, get the latest updates on bills supporting people living with dementia and their caregivers, and meet with your legislators to discuss our policy priorities. Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference!
Sign Up to Learn About Advocacy Opportunities in Massachusetts
Find My Chapter
Together, we’re making an impact. Find an Alzheimer’s Association chapter in your community for more ways to engage.
135,200
people living with Alzheimer’s in Massachusetts
213,000
Bay Staters are providing unpaid care
$1.8 Billion
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
1,558
deaths from Alzheimer’s in 2021
23%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
62.1%
increase of geriatricians in Massachusetts needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.