20th Annual Public Policy Forum

2008 Photo Gallery

The Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. brought together Alzheimer advocates from across the country to tell Congress Alzheimer's disease must become a national priority. During the two-day Forum, more than 500 advocates participated in meetings with legislators and attended a Congressional hearing on Alzheimer's that garnered national media attention.


Testifying before a special Congressional hearing on Alzheimer's disease, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich urges Congress to speed research and increase help for families. O'Connor and Gingrich are members of the Alzheimer's Study Group, a taskforce of national leaders assembled to develop and advance strategies to overcome Alzheimer's.		Alzheimer advocate Chuck Jackson speaks to Congress about his experiences as an individual with younger-onset Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's has devastated five generations of his family.


Members of Congress hear from Suzanne Carbone, a caregiver to her husband with Alzheimer's. She describes the challenges faced by family caregivers and the importance of community support and services.		Powerful women for the Alzheimer cause: Sens. Susan Collins (left) and Elizabeth Dole speak with Sandra Day O'Connor after the hearing.


About 600 Alzheimer advocates attended the hearing, causing more than one of the 11 Senators present to say, “I have never seen so many people at a Congressional hearing in my entire career.”		The candlelight vigil moves indoors this year due to cold weather. Advocates honor loved ones while listening to Ken Johnson's song "The Long Goodbye."


Washington D.C. news reporter Pamela Brown, daughter of Alzheimer advocate and Champion Phyllis George and former Kentucky Governor John Brown, speaks at the candlelight vigil. Pamela's grandmother (Phyllis' mother) had Alzheimer's.		Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) receives the Alzheimer's Association 2008 Humanitarian Award in recognition of his leadership to expand support services for family caregivers and to raise awareness of the disease in the Hispanic community. Also pictured is Paul Attea (right), chair elect of Alzheimer's Association national board of directors.


Bettylu Saltzman (left), vice chair of the Alzheimer's Association national board of directors, presents Judy Buchannan, Greater Illinois chapter, with the 2008 Maureen Reagan Outstanding Advocate Award.		Keynote speaker Mike McCurry, former White House Press Secretary and veteran political strategist, shares his views on the current state of politics and gives tips to advocates on how best to influence legislators to make Alzheimer's a national priority.