Advocate


 Advocates in D.C. for 2014 Advocacy Forum  201


Join the cause: Volunteer to advocate for a world without Alzheimer's

What does an Advocacy Volunteer do?

Advocacy Volunteers play a vital role in our efforts to strengthen federal, state and local policymakers’ commitment to end this devastating disease. Advocacy Volunteers 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.

If you are interested in becoming an Alzheimer's Association advocate, please contact Sara Kofman, public policy director, at skofman@alz.org or 503-416-0202.

Add your voice to ours! Click here to sign up for advocacy effort information.


What is an Alzheimer's Association State Ambassador?

State Ambassadors are grassroots volunteers selected to serve as the liaison for state senators and representatives. They work to build relationships through personal contacts, meetings and other activities.

Click here to learn more about the State Ambassador program.

Click here for the State Ambassador application.

 

What is the Alzheimer's Congressional Team (ACT)? 

The ACT is made up of one Federal Ambassador and multiple team members who help advance the federal legislative goals of the Alzheimer's Association. Federal Ambassadors are grassroots volunteers selected to serve as the main point of in-district contact for a member of Congress. Ambassadors play a critical role by working directly with national and chapter staff to implement federal advocacy activities at the community level. Congressional team members support  federal legislative goals by helping the federal ambassador conduct advocacy activities.  

Click here to learn more about the Federal Ambassador program.

If you are interested in doing federal advocacy work, please contact Sara Kofman, public policy director, at skofman@alz.org or 503-416-0202.

 

Events

  • 2016 Alzheimer's Advocacy Day

    Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Alzheimer's Advocacy Day in Salem! Stay tuned for details for 2017. 

     
  • 2016 Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum 

    The Alzheimer’s Association’s Annual Advocacy Forum is the Association's premier advocacy event.  Hundreds of people from across the country meet in Washington, D.C., for three incredible days of learning, networking and advocating on Capitol Hill.  

    The Forum is open to everyone and no experience is necessary. To register for the Forum, visit www.alz.org/forum.


Questions? Contact Sara Kofman, public policy director, at 503-416-0202 or skofman@alz.org.
 

What we're working on 

Federal policy

Our latest victory: The Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Spending Bill, which included the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act and increased funding for Alzheimer's research, was signed into law in December 2014. 

We are thrilled for this legislative success, but we know much more work needs to be done. 

Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in America, with costs set to skyrocket in the years ahead. For Medicare and Medicaid, treatments equal savings. In 2014 the total cost of Alzheimer’s will be $214 billion, including $150 billion to Medicare and Medicaid. Meanwhile, only 0.25% of this total has been committed to Alzheimer’s research, the only path to reducing this cost.

This is why we are advocating at the state and national levels for critical research funding to find a cure, and public policies to improve the quality of care for those with the disease and support for their caregivers.

Find out who represents you in Congress.

Our 2016 federal priorities:

Facts and Figures

Click here to read the latest facts and figures related to Alzheimer's disease in Oregon.

Click here to read the latest Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report.