In 2009, the Missouri General Assembly established the Missouri Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force through passage of HB 272. Responsible for assessing the challenges posed by Alzheimer’s disease within the state, the Task Force included representatives from state agencies, health care providers, and community organizations as well as caregivers, state legislators, an individual living with Alzheimer’s, and the lieutenant governor. After collecting public input regarding community frustrations, concerns, and advice on dealing with this disease, the Task Force presented the Missouri Alzheimer’s State Plan, published in November 2010.

Over the course of 2022, the Task Force convened and released an updated Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force Report and Recommendations. After collecting public input from eight community forums, the Task Force identified four focus areas with strategies for the state to address the growing crisis of Alzheimer’s and other dementia. The State Plan includes recommendations for advancing risk reduction, early detection, and timely diagnosis; increasing access to care, support, and treatment; improving quality of care; and ensuring a coordinated statewide response.

Reestablish the Alzheimer’s State Task Plan Force

Following tremendous advocacy, state lawmakers passed legislation establishing the Missouri Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force in 2009 and 2022. Following a public input period, the Task Force published the Missouri State Alzheimer’s Plan in 2023. The Alzheimer’s Association is calling on state policymakers to reestablish the Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force, allowing for annual updates to the existing state plan and development of a new state plan every five years. Reestablishing the Task Force will enable Missouri to effectively oversee implementation and synthesize successes and failures to inform the development of future state plan updates, all while supporting the evolving needs of individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.