What is State Advocacy Day all about?
Each year, Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) advocates from across the state meet with policymakers to share their stories and advance policies to improve the lives of Louisianans impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia.
This year, the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual State Advocacy Day was April 25, with Gov. Jeff Landry also declaring the day as Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Awareness Day.
“For me, volunteering to contribute to Alzheimer’s advocacy and fundraising is deeply personal. Having lost my mother, grandmothers, and my godmother to this disease, I witnessed firsthand the devastating impact dementia has on families,” said Jim Pittman, Alzheimer’s Association advocate. “The journey of caregiving was challenging, filled with moments of sadness, frustration and love. It was during this time that I realized the urgent need for support and research to combat this debilitating disease.”
Alzheimer’s Association Louisiana chapter advocates gathered on the Capitol steps for a rally around Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness. Afterwards, they met with their legislators to continue to rally support for Senate Bill 46.
Advocates urged their elected officials to back SB46, which will establish the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Advisory Council and ensure that Alzheimer’s and related dementias remain a public health priority in Louisiana.
“SB46 would ensure that Alzheimer’s and related dementias remain a top public health priority in Louisiana by establishing a comprehensive and collaborative effort between the private sector and state agencies. The Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Advisory Council would help educate our public on dementia, strengthen our health care workforce, improve access and quality of care, and support family caregivers," said Public Policy Director Tatiana Gonzalez. "Now more than ever, Louisiana needs to expand its public health efforts to address this disease. The Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Advisory Council would ensure this work gets done.”
Alzheimer’s and other dementia have a growing impact on state health systems, budgets and workforces. By 2025, the number of Louisiana adults age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s is projected to increase by 110,000. In 2023, Alzheimer’s and other dementias cost American taxpayers an estimated $345 billion, and the cost is projected to rise to nearly $1 trillion by 2050. Louisiana also has 200,000 caregivers that provide more than 363 million hours of unpaid care.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most critical public health issues in America, with 1 in 3 seniors dying with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association and AIM will continue working with policymakers to address the dementia crisis and ensure there is a coordinated response to Alzheimer’s in every state.
Learn more about how the Alzheimer’s Association and AIM are advancing policies that improve the lives of those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia in states throughout the country, and also read more about year-round advocacy efforts in Louisiana at alzimpact.org/louisiana.