Dementia information

AN ACT Relating to including information on dementia risk 1
reduction and dementia diagnosis in department of health materials 2
and websites; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; and creating 3
a new section. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:6
(1) Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, 7
problem solving, and other thinking abilities that are severe enough 8
to interfere with daily life, with Alzheimer's disease being the most 9
common form of dementia. 10
(2) More than 10 percent of Washingtonians over 65 are living 11
with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, which in 2025 12
was more than 126,000 individuals. 13
(3) People with dementia require increasing amounts of care as 14
their condition progresses. Much of that care is often provided by 15
unpaid caregivers. In Washington, 254,000 unpaid caregivers provide 16
more than 390,000,000 hours of unpaid care totaling $11,000,000,000 17
in unpaid care. 18
(4) For people with dementia who require professional care, the 19
state spends $747,000,000 annually on medicaid costs to provide care. 20
Much of that care is provided in long-term care facilities.21
S-3612.1
SENATE BILL 6161
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Slatter, Liias, Nobles, Riccelli, Saldaña, Shewmake,
Valdez, and C. Wilson
Read first time 01/15/26. Referred to Committee on Health & Long-
Term Care.
p. 1 SB 6161
(5) Dementia disproportionately affects marginalized communities, 1
with African Americans twice as likely to develop dementia when 2
compared to white Americans; Hispanic Americans are 1.5 times as 3
likely to develop dementia when compared to white Americans; Native 4
Americans also have a higher instance to develop dementia when 5
compared to white Americans. 6
(6) Underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, 7
hearing loss, and smoking all increase the risk of dementia.8
(7) According to a two-year clinical study released by the 9
Alzheimer's association in 2025, individuals can reduce their risk of 10
dementia through modifiable lifestyle interventions including 11
physical exercise, intellectually challenging and social activities, 12
proper nutrition, and routine health monitoring. 13
(8) The department of health conducts many kinds of public 14
awareness campaigns and maintains websites to promote healthy living 15
and education around modifiable health factors. These campaigns and 16
websites provide key information to at-risk populations and are 17
available in several languages spoken by Washington residents.18
(9) The department of health already educates health care 19
providers in Washington about the importance of risk reduction and 20
diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, 21
improving awareness, prevention, and early intervention.22
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.70 23
RCW to read as follows: 24
(1) When creating new or updating existing public health campaign 25
websites or materials, the department shall consider including, where 26
practicable and appropriate, information about dementia risk 27
reduction when research shows a correlation between the subject of 28
the public health campaign and dementia risk reduction. The updated 29
material shall be made available in all languages currently provided 30
by the department. 31
(2) When creating new or updating existing health care provider 32
information, websites, or materials, the department shall consider 33
including, where practicable and appropriate, information about 34
dementia risk reduction and dementia diagnoses when research shows a 35
correlation between the new or updated health care provider 36
information and dementia risk reduction. 37
(3) The department shall consult with subject matter experts 38
specific to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia when 39
p. 2 SB 6161
compiling information about dementia risk reduction or diagnosis for 1
health care providers or the public. 2
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p. 3 SB 6161