Advocate for Change:
Speak Out on Alzheimer’s Disease

Now is the Time to End Alzheimer's Disease. Let Washington Hear Your Voice:

• Sign the Stop Alzheimer's Petition and become an Alzheimer's disease advocate.
  
  Firme la  Petición para detener el mal de Alzheimer y conviértase en un defensor de asuntos del Alzheimer.


• Print the Alzheimer's Petition to help sign people up in your communities.

• Sign the Stop Alzheimer's Petition and become an Alzheimer's Disease Advocate. You can receive breaking news and action alerts, with information on the latest scientific discoveries and any ADR Calls to Action.
  
  Firme la Petición para detener el mal de Alzheimer y conviértase en un defensor de asuntos del Alzheimer.


• Read and download fact sheets on Alzheimer’s disease, or request copies by calling 1-800-948-3244.


• Learn more about this disease by reading BrightFocus’ Alzheimer’s disease publications, or visiting the Alzheimer’s Disease Research section of the BrightFocus website.

• Share ADR materials with others at health fairs, support groups, places of worship, or local community or political events. Offer to staff a booth at local events and share the information there.


• Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.  Share what you learn from ADR with friends, and urge them to take action when needed.


• Share a personal story about you or a loved one living with Alzheimer's disease. Stories are powerful tools for educating the public on the urgency of finding a cure. Share your story online, by email, or phone call at 1.800.948.3244.

• Congress makes important decisions on research funding and federal health programs like Medicare. Know who your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators are, and their stand on issues, by visiting www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. From there, you can find the legislators’ official websites, with information on their legislative record, upcoming community forums, and how to reach them by phone, letter, or email.


• Communicate with your U.S. Representative or Senators by sending a message via phone or email, or requesting a meeting at their district or state office.  If your meeting is with a staff person to the legislator, don’t be disappointed: key staffers can have great influence with, and may know an issue better than, the Member of Congress.  After the meeting, send a thank you letter.  Offer to be an information resource for them in the future.


• Many decisions on community services and family supports are made at the local or state level.  Know which elected officials represent you by checking the blue government pages of your phone book, or checking your State Legislature website.  Learn the officials’ views through their website information, and save their contact information.


• Attend a Town Hall or other local event sponsored or attended by your federal, state, or local representatives. (You may find dates and other event information on their websites.) Ask the officials about their position on ending Alzheimer's disease, and share your story.

• Now is the time to make Alzheimer's disease part of the national conversation during the campaign for the Presidency and seats in Congress. Attend community and political events. When candidates or their staff are present, you can:
  • Ask what the candidate says about finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease.
  • Tell them you and other voters in your state care about ending this disease.
  • Talk about the importance of more research and resources.
  • Share your story.

• If there is a news story on Alzheimer’s disease, write a Letter to the Editor.  Remind the public of the need for more Alzheimer’s disease research and resources.  You’ll find instructions on sending a Letter to the Editor, and the maximum word count, on the newspaper’s editorial page or website.

• Representatives Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-Chairs of the Congressional Taskforce on Alzheimer's Disease and House authors of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA), sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging the swift and efficient implementation of the Act.
  
  In the letter, the Congressmen made a series of recommendations for the National Alzheimer's Plan including: increasing medical research funding and coordination, incentivizing private sector research and development, expanding public awareness efforts, providing reimbursement for comprehensive Alzheimer's diagnoses, expanding outcome-oriented care programs and dementia training for healthcare professionals, and encouraging states to adopt their own Alzheimer's plans.


• Read the letter


• Share your thoughts and suggestions with Representatives Markey and Smith

Source: www.markey.house.gov

On February 22, 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the first full draft of a National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. The plan, a major component of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) enacted last year, sets a goal of ending Alzheimer's disease by 2025. Read the draft plan here.

As the draft process was getting underway, BrightFocus President and CEO Stacy Pagos Haller noted the highlights and the challenges involved. A plan that sets aggressive deadlines and shines a spotlight on research priorities is a major step forward. "Yet we know that to truly conquer this disease, a coordinated effort among non-profits, industry, and the government—and increased funding—is needed," said Haller. Read more.

The public comment period on the draft plan has now ended. However, to engage in the conversation on the national plan, sign our petition. You can share your thoughts and get breaking news on the latest developments.

• The Spending Reductions through Innovative Therapies Act (SPRINT Act) would spur innovation in research and drug development for chronic health conditions such as Alzheimer's that are leading causes of death as well as the most costly to taxpayers.


• The Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education for Alzheimer's Act (HOPE Act) is a bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act. It will provide Medicare coverage of comprehensive Alzheimer's disease and related dementia diagnosis and services. This would help Americans living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias by improving detection, diagnosis, and care planning. Read the text of the bill.
  
  
• The Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act would require a federal commitment to advance breakthrough treatments for Alzheimer's disease. The bill would also provide for public-partnerships that would fast-track Alzheimer's research and treatment development. Read the text of the bill.

How to take action: Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor the SPRINT Act, the HOPE Act, and the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act. Visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. From there, you can find the legislators' official websites, with information on their legislative record, upcoming community forums, and how to reach them by phone, letter, or email.concerning this bill.

• One person in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease approximately every 69 seconds.


• Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.


• The national cost of Alzheimer's disease (in people over 65 years old) was $183 billion in 2011, and by 2050 it will be $1.1 trillion.


• For a person with Alzheimer's disease, the annual cost of home care is estimated at $76,000, including medical expenses and indirect costs such as a caregiver's time and lost wages.


• The care of an Alzheimer's patient, viewed as custodial care, is not covered by Medicare and most health insurance plans.


• Roughly half of all caregivers are between the ages of 18 and 49, with the average age of the typical caregiver being 48.

Learn more about the statistics concerning Alzheimer's disease.