Welcome readers!

As we move further into 2010, we have a lot to do, and the Alzheimer's Association is in full speed mode in the public policy & advocacy arena; we will continue to raise awareness on behalf of those who struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and their family caregivers.

Alzheimer’s Action Summit: Advocacy Forum

This year’s public policy forum will be held from March 7-9 in Washington, D.C. The advocacy forum is where thousands of advocates come together and help make a difference to achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer's. Alzheimer advocates nationwide will converge on Washington, D.C. to participate in the Advocacy Forum themed, “My Experience, My Voice.” The Forum is the signature opportunity for attendees to ensure elected officials understand the unrelenting reality and impact of Alzheimer’s directly from their constituents. As the Alzheimer disease population continues to grow, our job is to help our legislators understand the need for enhanced care and services, and federal research funding to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease.

Today there are as many as 5.3 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to soar to as many as 16 million by 2050. An exploding epidemic, Alzheimer’s has the power to undermine all of our best efforts to control health care costs because of its very real potential to bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid and the retirement security of generations to come.

For more information about this year’s Advocacy Forum please call Leena Shah at 609.275.1180 or e-mail her at leena.shah@alznj.org.

State Updates

NJ Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission – A Call to Action!

Please contact your legislator and ask him/her to add their support to this bill. Click here to find your legislator and take action! . Tell public officials that Alzheimer’s disease affects loved ones, friends and neighbors. It places an enormous burden on family caregivers who must endure prolonged physical, emotional, and financial stress. Urge them to review this bill and commit to supporting this legislation. The bill numbers for this legislation are: (S125/A322).

The NJ Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission will: provide an overview and framework of the impact of Alzheimer's disease in New Jersey; analyze all areas affected by Alzheimer's issues; identify existing services and service gaps; and propose legislation to the New Jersey Legislature and the Governor on how the state can better serve individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families.

Federal Updates

Health Care Reform Update

We are pleased that many Alzheimer's-specific provisions were included in the health care reform legislation. We will continue to weigh-in to ensure that Alzheimer related provisions are included. For more information, contact Leena Shah.

Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act

This legislation authorizes a significant increase in funding for Alzheimer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to $2 billion to restore momentum to the pursuit of better diagnosis, prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Because we still have a long way to go in the process of the Breakthrough Act becoming law, we need to keep up the momentum on this bipartisan legislation. Check out the list of current cosponsors here. If your members of Congress are not listed, ask them to sign on today!

For more information about public policy and advocacy, please visit our Web site, www.alznj.org/. Thank you for visiting our blog; we welcome your comments here.