New Jersey State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In June 2011, the New Jersey Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission was established to study the impact and incidence of Alzheimer’s disease within the state. The Commission was tasked with making recommendations for improving and expanding services within the state to meet the needs of those affected by Alzheimer’s. It included representatives from state agencies, direct service providers, long-term care providers, community organizations, and the faith communities as well as state legislators, caregivers, and individuals living with the disease. The New Jersey Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission Report was published in August 2016.
New Jersey 2024 Policy Priorities
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 is 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.
Update Dementia Training Requirements for Law Enforcement Officers
Law enforcement officers often encounter individuals living with dementia and are among the first to observe instances of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Currently, law enforcement officers in New Jersey only undergo dementia training during their enrollment at the police academy and are not required to receive annual continuing education. Without proper and continuous training on de-escalation tactics, recognizing the signs of dementia, and effectively communicating with individuals living with dementia, situations may escalate quickly with potentially dangerous consequences. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging the Police Training Commission to require one hour of dementia training for law enforcement officers every two years.
Spread Dementia Awareness Across New Jersey
183,300 New Jerseyans are living with Alzheimer’s, but as many as half of them are not formally diagnosed. A timely diagnosis is the first step in ensuring that individuals living with dementia can benefit from care planning, clinical trials and new treatments, which can improve the quality of life and reduce the financial burden of the disease. Residents in New Jersey must first gain greater awareness of the disease and the benefits of early detection and diagnosis, risk reduction, and care planning. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to appropriate $750,000 for a public awareness campaign and early detection program, with particular focus on underserved populations across the state who are disproportionately affected by the disease.
Ensure a Coordinated Statewide Response to Alzheimer’s
With the number of New Jerseyans who are living with Alzheimer’s estimated to increase by 10.5% in 2025, coordination between state agencies that administer programs for people with dementia is crucial. This lack of coordination is hindering the ability of New Jersey to establish a strong dementia-specific infrastructure. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on the state legislature to establish a Dementia Services Coordinator position within the Department of Human Services. This state agency position will support the work of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Long Term Advisory Commission, oversee implementation of the state Alzheimer’s plan, and serve as a liaison between state agencies, the governor, the legislature, and external stakeholders.
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185,300
people living with Alzheimer’s in New Jersey
272,000
New Jerseyans are providing unpaid care
$2.2 Billion
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
2,399
deaths from Alzheimer’s in 2021
23%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
93.2%
increase of geriatricians in New Jersey needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in New Jersey
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 New Jersey policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.