$20 Trillion
Caring
for people with Alzheimer’s disease will cost the United States $20
trillion over the next 40 years. And while the financial costs of this
disease are staggering, as you know the human cost of Alzheimer’s is
even greater.
But
we’re working to change that. Because of the strength of you and other
advocates, our shared, tireless commitment to fighting this disease, and
a strong National Alzheimer’s Plan to overcome it, we know we can make this issue a national priority.
Please continue to urge your legislators to provide $100 million in additional resources for research, education, care and support activities next year.
A Message for Our Nation’s Political Leaders
As
an Association advocate, you received our survey earlier this fall
asking you to help us identify the messages from the Alzheimer’s crisis
that resonate most powerfully with you. We’ve had a fantastic response to the survey and would like to thank those of you who participated.
In
addition to this survey, we’ve conducted focus groups with key staff on
Capitol Hill to identify the most effective messages that will allow us
to have the greatest impact on members of Congress. And, of course,
thousands of you also shared your thoughts in-person at our Alzheimer’s Town Hall events. These initiatives are part of a broader national effort to press elected officials for action on Alzheimer’s.
We’ve
taken what we’ve learned and turned that knowledge into action. This
month we’re continuing work on a project designed to spark conversations about Alzheimer’s in Iowa,
a key battleground state in the presidential election. Alzheimer’s advocates in Iowa are attending
presidential campaign stops, wearing purple, distributing information
and speaking with press whenever possible about the need to make
Alzheimer’s a public policy priority. None of these efforts support any
individual candidate, but they all seek to continue to elevate
Alzheimer’s as a priority for our country.
...and more
The
Alzheimer’s Ambassadors and advocates are getting the word out at the
presidential and vice presidential debates, where we’ve successfully
engaged students, elected officials and media personalities in
discussions about Alzheimer’s disease. You can follow their activities
on Facebook.
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