Advocate

 photo of Capitol

Join the cause

The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Maryland Chapter, invites you to become an Alzheimer's advocate. Join us and speak up for the needs and rights of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

Add your voice to ours — become an advocate today.

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Whether it's attending the Advocacy Forum, testifying at a hearing, writing a letter, sending an e-mail you can make a big difference by making your voice heard. If you have not already done so, please join the Advocates Network. By doing so, you will receive information about what is happening on the state and federal levels that affects people with Alzheimer's disease, and you will be notified when taking action would be most effective. 

Join us at the Advocacy Forum.

Join us for Walk to End Alzheimer's. Sign up today!

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 quality of life for those living with Alzheimer’s.

Maryland advocacy

To prepare for the growing numbers of people impacted by Alzheimer’s and related disorders in coming decades, Alzheimer’s Association chapters throughout the country have been advocating for the development of Alzheimer state plans. Currently more than 25 states, including Maryland, are in various stages of developing State plans.  

In Maryland, this effort was initiated through budget language during the 2010 legislative session. This language stated that the “Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the State Department of Aging will establish a work group to:

  • Examine the extent of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) in Maryland 
  • Identify best practices in the treatment of ADRD
  • Assess existing service and resource capacity for individuals with ADRD”

The workgroup included a diverse group of state agency representatives, health professionals, the Alzheimer’s Association and other members of the advocacy community, researchers and family members, including those impacted by young-onset dementia. Three subgroups were established to review current practice and literature and develop recommendations for each of the above work group objectives.  

Preliminary findings of the groups showed that there is a lack of Maryland-specific data on ADRD, that there is under-detection and under-diagnosis of the disease, resulting in enormous associated costs, and there exist services and program gaps for those in early stage, as well as for those who develop the disease under age 65.

The final report was submitted on December 1, 2010 to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee. The primary three recommendations were:

  1. Establish a state-wide public/ private commission dedicated to ADRD to shape a state plan and promote availability of best practices;
  2. Increase data collection and coordination as to ADRD;
  3. Increase public awareness about and outreach for ADRD with special attention to minority and underserved communities.

Read the entire report here.

Read other state plans for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias here.

Maryland resources 

Federal advocacy