More than 150,000 Georgia residents are living with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias with the total predicted to increase to 190,000 by 2025. This is why, starting on March 1, the Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter will have more than 75 advocates from across the state, including advocates from the South Georgia area, meeting with legislators virtually and taking action on social media to encourage support of several critical issues for those living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers for 2021 including:

• Investing in Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS)
• Addressing shortages among our healthcare workforce
• Protecting our state’s most vulnerable during emergencies
• Considering a Memory Care Medicaid Waiver program

In 2020, the Alzheimer’s Association advocates successfully worked with state legislators to encourage them to pass HB987, a bill, signed by Governor Kemp, which was a major step forward in addressing the standards of care in senior care facilities throughout the state. The landmark legislation included provisions to establish a memory care certification process, dementia-specific training requirements for all staff, and increased oversight to protect the residents.

“The commitment and tenacity we’ve seen from advocates this past year despite the very serious challenges many of them are facing has been nothing short of remarkable”, added Cai Yoke, Advocacy Manager for the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “It’s because of their work that we’ve made progress to make Georgia a more dementia-capable state, and I know that our advocates will bring that same power and passion to educating their lawmakers during Alzheimer’s Awareness Week.” 

Alzheimer’s is the only leading cause of death in America without a way to prevent, cure, or even slow its progression. Consequently, in 2020 alone, Alzheimer’s and other dementias are expected to cost Georgia $1.265 billion. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease – the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 16 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.