Alzheimer's group asks Senate to triple dementia respite funding to help 20,000 unpaid caregivers

Jordon, who does state government relations for the Alzheimer's Association, testified to the Senate Health & Welfare committee that Vermont needs a substantial increase in its dementia respite program to support unpaid family caregivers. "There are 20,000 unpaid caregivers caring for people with Alzheimer's or dementia in the state," Jordon said, adding that those caregivers provide "29 million hours of care each year at a value of $770 million." He asked the committee to raise the program's base funding from $250,000 to $750,000, raise the cap to $300,000, and authorize $100,000 for a pilot in two counties that lost adult day programs after the pandemic.

Jordon framed the request as both compassionate and fiscally responsible, saying respite helps caregivers attend appointments, recover, and avoid burnout while delaying Medicaid entry. Committee members pressed for clarification about whether demand is growing; Jordon responded that Alzheimer’s prevalence and caregiver needs are increasing and that adult day services are a critical support that, without funding, often result in higher-cost nursing home placements.

The committee did not vote on the request; senators said they will revisit the testimony during budget deliberations and consider how to prioritize it alongside other FY27 requests.