LISTEN: The Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is asking the General Assembly for $2 million to fund a dementia caregiver support program. GPB’s Ellen Eldridge reports it could help the more than 380,000 unpaid caregivers in Georgia.

a closeup of silver-haired woman's face with hands folded under her chin

Anne Hunt poses for a portrait in her Chicago home in 2018 after her dementia diagnosis. Georgia advocates are seeking state aid for unpaid caregivers of dementia patients in 2026.

Credit: (AP Photo/Annie Rice)

The Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is asking the General Assembly for $2 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget to fund a dementia caregiver support program. 

The money from the state would come through the Division of Aging Services and pay for senior centers with adult day programs to provide respite care to caregivers, Director Of Government Affairs Nancy Pitra said.

"They can provide respite, which is what we hear a lot of caregivers needing, especially caring for someone with Alzheimer's," she said. "You're getting that break so that you don't get burnout, that you can take care of your own health."

There are 384,000 unpaid caregivers, including family and friends in Georgia who provide care for someone with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. The value of that unpaid care is about $13 billion, Pitra said. 

1 in 3 people over the age of 65 has a dementia diagnosis of some sort or is living with undiagnosed dementia. 

Caregivers, health industry professionals and volunteer advocates will meet with legislators in the Georgia Capitol building on Thursday Jan. 22.

Tags: Georgia  Alzheimer's Disease  Caregiving  caregiver  Legislature  general assembly  GPB News