North Dakota State Alzheimer’s Plan Overview
In 2007, the North Dakota legislature approved House Concurrent Resolution No. 3022 to study the current and future impact of Alzheimer’s disease within the state. The Dementia-Related Services — Background Memorandum was presented to the state’s Long-Term Care Committee in 2007. In 2020, funds were allocated to support an update of the state plan, allowing the state to convene a work group to conduct a current and comprehensive needs assessment and develop a new set of recommendations. A new plan was released in 2022, coinciding with the launch of data-focused Alzheimer’s/Dementia Dashboard on the North Dakota Department of Health’s website.
North Dakota 2025 Policy Priorities
Strengthening the Dementia Care Services Program
Individuals diagnosed or caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s have to navigate a complex network of knowledge, services, and benefits to meet their care needs. North Dakota must continue to strengthen its infrastructure to provide accessible support for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. The Dementia Care Services program provides education and outreach as well as care consultations to support families. The program also assists health care providers with dementia education and facilitates referrals to programs and services. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to reaffirm its commitment to people living with dementia and to strengthen the program to ensure North Dakotan families’ needs can be met.
Establishing a State Dementia Coordinator Position
North Dakota is home to over 13,700 people living with Alzheimer’s and 19,000 unpaid caregivers. As the population with dementia grows, coordination between state agencies that administer programs for people living with dementia and caregivers is crucial. The Alzheimer’s Association is urging state lawmakers to pass comprehensive legislation authorizing a State Dementia Coordinator Position in the Department of Health and Human Services as part of a proposed Dementia Response Program. The coordinator would be tasked with updating and implementing the Alzheimer’s and Dementia state plan, collecting and disseminating data from other divisions, and conducting a statewide awareness campaign.
Requiring Dementia-Specific Training for Guardians and Conservators
Due to the impact of dementia on a person’s ability to make decisions and in the absence of other advanced directives, people living with dementia may need the assistance of a guardian or conservator. Once appointed, a guardian or conservator may make decisions for the individual that relate to the person’s health, well-being and economic interest. With such responsibility, it is imperative that they have a sufficient understanding of the needs of people living with dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state lawmakers to update guardianship and conservatorship statutes to require dementia-specific training if they are serving people living with dementia.
North Dakota State Advocacy Day
Join advocates on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at the state capitol for State Advocacy Day! Advocates will have the opportunity to share their stories with state legislators and urge their support for policy solutions that address the needs of North Dakotans living with dementia and their families.
Sign Up to Learn About Advocacy Opportunities in North Dakota
Find My Chapter
Together, we’re making an impact. Find an Alzheimer’s Association chapter in your community for more ways to engage.
13,700
people living with Alzheimer’s in North Dakota
19,000
North Dakotans are providing unpaid care
$190 Million
Medicaid cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s (2020)
325
deaths from Alzheimer’s in 2021
18%
in hospice with a primary diagnosis of dementia
183.3%
increase of geriatricians in North Dakota needed to meet the demand in 2050
Resources to Drive Change in North Dakota
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 North Dakota policymakers are addressing these gaps, and how you can help drive change.