 |
Join the cause
The Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati invites you to become an Alzheimer advocate. Join us and speak up for the needs and rights of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.
Act now
Write Congress and request more research funds.
Congress needs to know what’s important to you. Tell your elected officials to restore vital funding to Alzheimer research, care and prevention.
Advocacy Events
Nearly 200 Alzheimer advocates from across Ohio participated in the 11th Annual Memory Day in Columbus on April 7. In addition to office visits with their respective legislators to discuss personal concerns related to Alzheimer's disease, advocates took part in a luncheon program that featured guest speaker Barbara Riley, director of the Ohio Department of Aging. The highlight of the program was the presentation of the 2009 Sharen Eckert Leadership in Advocacy Award to Dr. Leopold Liss of Columbus, a long-time advocate and a founding member of the Alzheimer's Association in Ohio. Pictured above (from 2008 event): Alzheimer's Association of Greater Cincinnati Board President W. Clark Buck with Gov. Ted Strickland and Director Riley. Save the Date:
The 2010 Ohio Memory Day will be on Tuesday, April 13 at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. For more information on Memory Day or Alzheimer's-related public policy issues in Ohio, contact Steve Olding at (513) 721-4284 or email: steve.olding@alz.org.
2009 Kentucky Advocacy Day 'Touches' Legislators
More than 150 Alzheimer advocates from across the Bluegrass State spoke out in support of those affected by Alzheimer's disease at the 2009 Alzheimer's Advocacy Day in Frankfort on Feb. 11. The theme of this year's event was "Alzheimer's Touches Everyone." In addition to advocates meeting with their legislators, a special program was held in the Statehouse Rotunda. Featured speakers included Gov. Steve Beshear and former Kentucky First Lady Phyllis George.
Save the Date:
The 2010 Kentucky Alzheimer Advocacy Day will be at the Kentucky Capitol Building in Frankfort on Tuesday, Feb. 2. For more information on the Advocacy Day or Alzheimer's-related public policy issues in Kentucky, contact Steve Olding at (513) 721-4284 or email: steve.olding@alz.org.
What is an advocate?
Alzheimer advocates play an important role in improving the quality of care and quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families by working to improve dementia care and services; improve access to community-based care; improve quality care in residential settings; and expand funding for research and public programs serving people with dementia.
As an advocate, you will:
- Receive regular updates about current legislative and public policy issues.
- Stay on top of policy and legislative issues through alerts and updates.
- Make calls or write to legislators to forward public policy priorities to improve the quality of life for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Local advocacy
Advocates Answer Call To Push Alzheimer’s Message
By Steve J. Olding
Communications Director
Massive budget deficits, rising foreclosure and unemployment rates, corporate bankruptcies and funding cuts to social service programs at a time of acute need…it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the bad news of the past year.
But the difficult times our country now experiences only seems to be strengthening the resolve of Alzheimer advocates and increasing the number of people who are taking up the cause.
When I attended the Alzheimer’s Association’s National Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. in March, I was struck not only by the size of the forum, but the enthusiasm and optimism of those in attendance. Despite the poor economy, a record 545 advocates - representing 49 states and Canada - attended the forum. It was notable that this year’s forum attracted a more diverse and younger group of attendees - nearly half of whom were “first-timers” to the forum.
When our advocates traveled to Capitol Hill to visit with members of Congress on the final day of the forum, it was impossible to miss our advocates and their purple sashes. At least a dozen times that day I was confronted by complete strangers who, upon seeing my Alzheimer’s Association sash, stopped me and told me about their family who was affected by Alzheimer’s disease and how grateful they were that I was there speaking out about the issue on their behalf.
A few weeks later, nearly 200 volunteer advocates attended the 2009 Ohio Memory Day at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on April 7. Now in its eleventh year, Memory Day is an annual event that provides Alzheimer advocates an opportunity to meet with state legislators to discuss their concerns regarding Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on Ohio.
Whether it’s in Washington, D.C., Columbus or Frankfort, Alzheimer advocates are speaking in a loud and clear voice to their legislators. Our success can be measured by a number of recent developments:
* For the first time in nearly seven years, federal funding of Alzheimer research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is expected to be increased.
* A growing number of states, including Kentucky, have adopted formal Alzheimer’s State Plans to help address the current and future challenges that Alzheimer’s disease poses to state health care systems and the population at large.
* Despite major budget cuts in Ohio, the Alzheimer’s Respite Line Item (ARLI) was spared significant cuts for 2010-2011. The ARLI has provided millions of dollars in support of essential education and respite programs (many provided by Association chapters) for more than a decade.
* Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on our nation’s aging population has attracted significant interest in the growing call for health care reform in Washington. Earlier this year, the Senate Special Committee on Aging heard testimony from the Alzheimer’s Study Group (chaired by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former governor Bob Kerry) regarding its recommendations in the creation of a national strategic plan to deal with the growing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the United States.
As an Association we continue to build a stronger and better informed network of advocates - both locally and nationally. But if we are to truly succeed in our mission of advocacy on behalf of the millions of families touched by this disease today and the many more to follow, our base of advocates must continue to grow. Today, more than ever, your voice needs to be heard.
For more information, email: steve.olding@alz.org
