Public input from people living with dementia, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, providers, and Tribal and local officials helped shape the 2026-2035 National Alzheimer's Plan. For rural dementia families, the payoff is a federal blueprint focused on risk reduction, faster treatment research, better daily care, and stronger caregiver support. The National Alzheimer's Plan is the federal strategy for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Congress extended the National Alzheimer's Project through 2035 in Public Law 118-92, according to Congress.gov the Senate bill record. The law, enacted Oct. 1, 2024, requires HHS to refresh the National Plan.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- How did public input work?
- What changed in the 2026 Update?
- What does the plan mean for rural families?
- How can families use GUIDE support now?
How did public input work?
HHS set its Advisory Council to meet Feb. 9, 2026, to plan the 2026-2035 update, according to the Federal Register via GovInfo. Speakers received two minutes for public comments, with written comments due Feb. 11, 2026. HHS then issued Request for Information HHS-ASPE-2026-0298 to guide a full National Plan update, according to the Federal Register the July 2026 Federal Register notice.
Comments were due Aug. 15, 2026, so that window is now closed. HHS invited input through listening sessions and the RFI from people living with AD/ADRD, family members, and care partners, according to HHS ASPE. Clinicians, researchers, providers, and Tribal and local officials were also invited. AD means Alzheimer's disease and ADRD means Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
What changed in the 2026 Update?
On Oct. 22, 2026, at Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale, HHS announced the 2026 Update, according to HHS the HHS announcement. It replaces six historical goals with four lifespan goals.
The four aims are risk reduction, faster prevention and treatment research, better care, and stronger caregiver support. The updated title formally recognizes Related Dementias, reflecting public input about shared challenges across dementia types, according to McKnight's Senior Living. It also drops the expired 2025 treatment-goal deadline from the 2012 plan.
What does the plan mean for rural families?
Rural families face the sharpest access gaps, and HHS points them to a new rural channel, according to McKnight's Home Care. HHS said CMS will disseminate rural dementia strategies through the $50 billion five-year Rural Health Transformation Program.
A national strategy does not book a local visit. Families still need a local door into covered services.
How can families use GUIDE support now?
CMS's eight-year GUIDE Model started July 1, 2024, according to CMS the CMS GUIDE page. It pays participating dementia programs for care coordination, a 24/7 support line, and caregiver education plus respite. CMS listed 330 participants in July 2025.
Ask these questions when you call a dementia clinic or primary-care office. Bring a medication list and a short note about daily needs and caregiver hours. GUIDE help is available only through a participating provider. Families must enroll through a participating GUIDE provider to use these supports, according to McKnight's Home Care.
- Do you work with a participating GUIDE provider?
- What care coordination, 24/7 line, education, and respite do you offer?
- If not, where do you refer rural families for dementia care?
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