Be a Part of the Fight to End Alzheimer’s
Be a Part of the Fight to End Alzheimer’s
The millions of people impacted by Alzheimer's disease need your help. Your generosity can help us provide care and support to those facing the challenges of Alzheimer's and advance global research. Please make a gift today.
Donate NowAlzheimer's Association Brings Constituent Voices to the SC State House on March 5
Supporters Gather from across the State to Address Geriatric Healthcare Provider Shortage
COLUMBIA, SC, March 3, 2025 - Advocates in purple will gather at the SC State House on Wednesday, March 5, for an annual advocacy day hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association. While at the capitol, advocates will speak directly with policymakers, sharing their stories and seeking bipartisan legislative champions for families facing Alzheimer’s or dementia. Attendees will also ask legislators to address a severe shortage of specialists in senior medicine in the Palmetto State by modifying an existing Geriatric Loan Forgiveness Program at the SC Department on Aging.
“Alzheimer’s isn’t a red or blue issue — it is purple. What unites us all is our shared vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia,” said Ashton Houghton, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association, South Carolina Chapter. “It’s vitally important for our state lawmakers to hear from constituents in their own communities about the needs of families facing dementia. These conversations and relationships can spark widescale change to improve the lives of countless people across the Palmetto State.”
In the latest data from the SC Alzheimer’s Disease Registry, the most comprehensive registry of its type in the nation, 125,538 South Carolinians were living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association 2024 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report, a mere 66 geriatricians were practicing in South Carolina. 336% more geriatricians are needed to meet growing demand by 2050.
Although South Carolina was the first state in the nation to establish a Geriatric Loan Forgiveness Program in 2005, the reimbursement levels are no longer adequate. Currently, doctors selected for the program receive a total of $35,000 to repay their medical school debt in exchange for practicing geriatric medicine within the state for at least five years. To ensure that South Carolina can competitively recruit practitioners, the Alzheimer’s Association is seeking to increase the total individual reimbursement to $50,000. (H. 3025).
“Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia is a life-changing diagnosis for individuals, but so many families lose valuable time just waiting for an appointment with a specialist,” said Houghton. “In this new era of treatment, some individuals with Alzheimer’s may even progress beyond eligibility for disease-modifying drugs due to lengthy wait times and a shortage of practitioners. Our state must take steps now to address this growing crisis.”
In 2023, Governor McMaster signed into law the Alzheimer’s State Plan Act. The current Alzheimer’s State Plan for 2023-2028 calls for improving the quality of dementia care and ensuring that all people in South Carolina are able to access the resources, healthcare, and support they need for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most critical public health issues in America, with one in three seniors dying with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement are working with policymakers to address the dementia crisis and ensure there is a coordinated response to Alzheimer’s in every state.
The Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. For more information, visit www.alz.org/sc.