World Alzheimer’s Day 2025: Missouri’s Master Plan on Aging Offers Promise, but Families Must Remain Vigilant

On September 21, 2025, individuals and communities around the globe observe World Alzheimer’s Day. This annual event is a time to raise awareness, foster support for affected families, and encourage meaningful action to improve care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In Missouri, this year’s observance arrives during a pivotal moment in the state’s approach to aging and elder care.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services recently closed the public comment period for its draft of the Master Plan on Aging: Missourians Aging with Dignity. This ten-year roadmap is designed to guide state and local leaders as they address the needs of Missouri’s rapidly aging population. Although the public comment period ended on September 14, 2025, the conversation is only beginning. For families facing the realities of Alzheimer’s care, the next steps will be critical.

At Kendall Law Group, we represent families whose loved ones have been harmed in nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout Missouri and Kansas. We understand the devastating consequences that can result when systems fail, and we continue to monitor the state’s efforts to improve care for those living with Alzheimer’s disease. Today, on World Alzheimer’s Day, we urge families, caregivers, and advocates to remain engaged and informed as Missouri moves forward with the finalization and implementation of its Master Plan on Aging.

Alzheimer’s Disease in Missouri: An Escalating Public Health Challenge

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive and irreversible brain disorder that destroys memory, impairs reasoning, and interferes with daily functioning. It is the leading cause of dementia in the United States, accounting for up to eighty percent of dementia diagnoses. The impact on families, caregivers, and care providers is profound.

In Missouri, the need for reform and investment in Alzheimer’s care is urgent:

By the year 2030, one in every four Missourians will be aged 60 or older
More than 1.5 million adults in Missouri are currently living with a disability, many of whom have cognitive impairments such as dementia
The majority of care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease is provided by unpaid family members, most of whom are older adults themselves

In response to these trends, the state formed the Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force in 2022 to study the impact of dementia and recommend changes. The task force focused on early diagnosis, access to treatment, caregiver support, and the need for a coordinated state-level response. The findings from that task force laid the groundwork for the current draft of the Master Plan on Aging.

Key Priorities in Missouri’s Master Plan on Aging

The draft Master Plan reflects input from over 10,000 Missourians who participated through surveys, town hall meetings, and advisory committees. It sets forth strategic goals in seven primary areas:

Daily Life and Employment – Expanding opportunities for older adults to engage socially and remain active
Family Caregivers – Strengthening support systems, offering training, and increasing access to respite care
Housing and Aging in Place – Addressing the shortage of affordable, accessible housing options
Long-Term Services and Supports – Improving the quality, oversight, and availability of institutional and in-home care
Safety and Security – Reducing incidents of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation
Transportation and Mobility – Ensuring seniors can safely access necessary services
Whole-Person Health – Promoting mental, physical, and cognitive well-being across the lifespan

When it comes to Alzheimer’s care specifically, the Master Plan emphasizes several crucial areas of reform:

Increasing early detection efforts to allow families more time to plan and access support
Promoting person-centered care models that uphold each resident’s dignity and autonomy
Expanding programs that provide emotional, financial, and logistical support to family caregivers
Improving the training and oversight of direct care workers in nursing homes and assisted living facilities

These focus areas align with what our legal team at Kendall Law Group sees in our work every day. When long-term care systems are understaffed, untrained, or poorly regulated, it is often individuals with dementia who are most at risk of harm.

Alzheimer’s and Long-Term Care: A System in Crisis

Alzheimer’s disease creates unique vulnerabilities. Many residents with dementia cannot recognize abuse or communicate that something is wrong. Their complaints are often dismissed as confusion, and their declining health may mask signs of neglect. As a result, the risks they face in care environments are especially serious.

At Kendall Law Group, we regularly investigate cases involving:

Falls that lead to fractures or head injuries due to lack of supervision
Pressure sores and infections from failure to reposition or maintain hygiene
Medication errors caused by staff negligence or miscommunication
Emotional or verbal abuse, often unnoticed because of cognitive decline

Missouri currently ranks thirty-eighth in the country for long-term services and supports. That ranking reflects serious concerns regarding affordability, caregiver support, quality assurance, and facility oversight. For families of Alzheimer’s patients, these systemic gaps create deep uncertainty about whether their loved ones are safe and respected.

The Master Plan acknowledges these issues and outlines recommendations to improve accountability, transparency, and care quality. However, a plan alone cannot ensure safety. Real progress requires not only policy but also persistent public pressure and effective enforcement.

The Weight of Care: Missouri’s Family Caregivers

Approximately 800,000 Missourians are serving as unpaid family caregivers. Many of these individuals are looking after parents, spouses, or relatives with Alzheimer’s disease. They manage medication, monitor behaviors, assist with daily tasks, and often do so without adequate training or support.

The Master Plan proposes several initiatives to alleviate caregiver burden, including:

Increasing access to temporary respite care services
Offering financial assistance for caregivers who must reduce work hours or leave jobs
Providing education and training tailored to dementia care

While these supports are necessary, they also highlight a troubling reality: many family members are taking on responsibilities that should be met by trained professionals in licensed care environments. This is often due to the lack of trust in nursing homes or the lack of availability of high-quality care options.

Why World Alzheimer’s Day Still Matters in Missouri

Although the public comment period for Missouri’s Master Plan on Aging has concluded, World Alzheimer’s Day remains an important opportunity to continue advocacy. This is not the end of the conversation. It is the beginning of implementation, enforcement, and ongoing public involvement.

Here are several ways Missourians can continue to push for progress:

Stay Informed
Follow updates from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services regarding the finalization and implementation of the Master Plan

Share Your Story
Personal stories of care challenges help keep Alzheimer’s issues visible in both public forums and policy discussions

Educate Others
Talk with friends, neighbors, and community members about dementia, caregiving, and elder safety

Demand Accountability
If your loved one has been harmed in a care facility, consider speaking with an attorney who focuses on nursing home neglect and abuse

Kendall Law Group’s Ongoing Commitment

At Kendall Law Group, we believe that every Missourian deserves to age with dignity, safety, and respect. Our attorneys represent families throughout Missouri and Kansas whose loved ones have experienced abuse, neglect, or wrongful death in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

We hold care providers accountable when they violate the trust placed in them. We understand the complexities of dementia care, and we know how critical it is to ensure that facilities meet their legal and ethical obligations.

Missouri’s Master Plan on Aging represents a step toward systemic change. But that change will only come to life through continued vigilance, community engagement, and legal action when necessary. As long as facilities prioritize profits over patient dignity, families must remain watchful and proactive.

Kansas City Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys

World Alzheimer’s Day 2025 is a reminder that awareness is not enough. Action is required. Missouri has laid the foundation for improvement through its Master Plan on Aging. Now it is time to hold institutions accountable and ensure that no individual living with Alzheimer’s disease is left vulnerable to neglect or abuse.

If your loved one has suffered serious injuries or passed away due to nursing home abuse or neglect, the trial attorneys at Kendall Law Group are here to help you pursue justice. CALL NOW or reach out HERE to discuss your options.

For more information, read our free pamphlet: What You Need to Know About Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect