What is an Advocate?
The Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter invites you to become an Alzheimer advocate. Join us and speak up for the needs and rights of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.
Advocates can be anyone! This includes people with Alzheimer’s and related disorders, caregivers, friends, family members, and professionals who raise awareness and urge government to support research and care. 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:
- Learn how policy decisions affect people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers
- Be part of a larger movement to put Alzheimer’s on the national agenda, elevating Alzheimer’s from a disease to a cause
- Stay abreast of opportunities to generate action from our elected officials
Register now! Join with thousands of Alzheimer’s advocates in NYC and nationwide.
Federal Update
Increase Federal Funding for Alzheimer's
Congress must continue the fight against Alzheimer’s by increasing funding for research by $300 million in fiscal year 2016.
HOPE for Alzheimer's Act
This Act provides Medicare coverage for comprehensive care planning services and ensures that an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis is documented in every individual’s medical record. These steps are crucial in improving outcomes for individuals and caregivers.
Public Health Road Map
The Alzheimer's Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the Healthy Brain Initiative to advance cognitive health as a vital component of public health. It outlines how to promote cognitive functioning, address cognitive impairment and meet the needs of care partners.
New York Advocacy
Funding Increase
We thank Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature for including $25 million for Alzheimer’s disease caregiver support services in the 2015-2016 State Budget. This allows for the expansion of training, education, support programs, care consultations and access to community based services.
Make Advanced Directives Easier to Declare
People with dementia are unable to participate in medical decisions. Advance care planning can reduce confusion and guilt among those forced to make decisions about care. With the addition of a declaration of advance directives on a driver’s license or identification card, unwanted treatment can be avoided. Read About End of Life Decisions.
CARE Act
We applaud the New York State Legislature for passing the CARE Act. This Act implements a system to identify and educate caregivers for hospital patients. Improved caregiver education is crucial for the well-being of patients, especially those with dementia.
Financial Exploitation
People suffering from dementia are at risk of financial exploitation. This legislation would encourage banks and bank employees to voluntarily report suspected financial exploitation without risk of being sued or otherwise faulted.