Georgia Alzheimer's & Related Dementias State Plan

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Today, over 150,000 Georgians live with Alzheimer’s disease, and tens of thousands more experience other forms of dementia. Like many states, Georgia answered the call set forth by the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s to craft a unique blueprint that addresses the growing challenge of dementia.

The Plan’s Beginnings

Learn more about GARD by reading the 2020 GARD Progress Report.

Download this pdf file. See the report

During the 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly, legislators created the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force, a multidisciplinary group convened to improve dementia research, awareness, training, and care. Starting in June of that year, the six task force members and dozens of experts in diverse fields formed committees, conducted research, and made detailed recommendations.

The recommendations formed the core of the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan. You can access the State Plan Download this pdf file. here . The document describes current demographics, prevalence statistics, and existing resources; analyzes the state’s capacity to meet growing needs, and presents a roadmap to create a more dementia-capable Georgia.

Council Establishment

In June 2014, Governor Nathan Deal signed the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan into action, and the Task Force became an Advisory Council. With a plan in force, the Advisory Council is

  • ready to call for the early, accurate detection of dementia,
  • willing to battle stigma and misinformation, and
  • able to provide an incomparable web of support to families that need it.

Georgia’s recommendations cover a range of topics, including research, services, policy, public safety, workforce development, and public education.  And undergirding all of these areas is the importance of partnerships – creating a deeply coordinated statewide team of agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and organizations. 

Currently, the GARD collaborative is comprised of six different workgroups that are tasked with making strides toward the goals and objectives outlined in the State Plan. Those workgroups are:

  • Workforce Development
  • Service Delivery
  • Outreach and Partnerships
  • Policy
  • Public Safety
  • Healthcare, Data and Research Collection

2024 GARD Quarterly Meeting Dates

  • February 15
  • May 16
  • August 15
  • November 21

Program Contact

If you are interested in learning more about the GARD State Plan efforts, please contact Staci Hannah.