The Long Goodbye: Advocating for Research, Funding and Education for Alzheimer's.

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As a Congressional Team Member and former Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Association, I get to be the voice of people who have given so much to the world yet struggle to understand it. I watched a man with an IQ of 165 struggle with basic comprehension and self-care, and stood witness as that man began to forget the people he loved. I am one of the many who watched a bright light slowly dim and eventually extinguish because of a disease that, right now, has no cure. My bright light was my grandfather and he is the reason I stand here today determined to make my mark on this disease.   The Long Goodbye lends hope to the 44 million individuals and their families, like my own, who suffer from this disease internationally. My voice is strong for those who have lost theirs and I hope everyone joins me in this fight.

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My work in advocating  doesn't stop there.  I continue to meet with congressional leaders in efforts to dispel and  enhance care standards and establish support for caregivers. I have sought  increased funding in the research of Alzheimer’s with interests specific to treatment. I have lobbied on Capitol Hill, providing increased advocacy in the implementation of state and federal legislation, regarding caregiver support and facility care standards. This included state participation in the Alzheimer’s Association Rally Day at the Minnesota State Capitol, testifying in front of house sub-committees, and events for state-specific disease legislation.

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Lobbying for the rights of Alzheimer's victims and their families, I testified before the Minnesota Board on Aging, regarding Bill HF262. This bill took an important stride towards amending the “Preparing Minnesota for Alzheimer’s: The Budgetary, Social, and Personal Impacts.” Successful , we established an order that would require the review, revision and implementation of key points in which would lead to a more favorable result to the Alzheimer's community. I became nominated to take on this position, once the bill was passed.

In addition to Bill HF262, I successfully lobbied on behalf of:

✪ The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (The Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education for Alzheimer’s Disease), which was      passed by the 114th Congress in 2015
✪ The Alzheimer’s Accountability Act, which was passed in 2014 by the 113th Congress
✪ An Additional $400M in funding for Alzheimer’s Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

 

 

10 Signs of Alzheimer’s:

 

1. Memory Loss that disrupts everyday life

2. Challenges planning or solving problems

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure

4. Confusion with time or place

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

8. Decreased or poor judgment

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

10. Changes in mood and personality

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*The information above is from www.alz.org