Welcome to the

Ohio Council of the Alzheimer's Association

Take Action 

Be Part of Our State Success at Memory Day 2018 

How can you be a more effective voice for your loved ones affected by Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia? How can you help ensure that your state legislators support vital Alzheimer's programs and services that assist families in your community? How can YOU make a difference?

Join us Wednesday, May 9, 2018 for the 2018 Ohio Memory Day in the fight against Alzheimer's. Now in its 20th year, the Ohio Memory Day is one of the longest-running and successful Alzheimer's advocacy events in the nation. Memory Day, held at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, offers participants the unique opportunity to meet other Alzheimer's advocates from across the state as well as share their personal stories and concerns related to Alzheimer's disease with their elected representatives and their staffers. In addition to the office visits, a luncheon program featuring prominent guest speakers will be held in the Statehouse Atrium.

An estimated 210,000 Ohioans are affected by Alzheimer's disease. Another 597,000 Ohioans serve as their caregivers. By participating in Memory Day, you will lend momentum to our shared vision of a world withouth Alzheimer's.

To register for Memory Day, please call (800) 272-3900 or contact your local chapter for details. 

2017 Public Policy Priorities

State Priorities

• Actively participate in recruitment of a steering committee to begin development of an Ohio State Plan on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Ohio is one of the only states in the nation without a State Plan. 

• Engage key stakeholders and legislators to ensure current respite programs and services are adequately funded to accommodate the growing need of such programs and services provided by the Alzheimer's Association in Ohio through the Alzheimer's Respite Line Item (490-414). 

• Advocate for required competency-based, person-centered dementia training of all direct service, administrative, supervisory, and other staff who are involved in the delivery of care to those with Alzheimer's and other dementias in health care and home and community-based settings.

• Continue to advocate and support federal public policy priorities as identified by the Association’s public policy office, which include supporting a strong, accountable National Alzheimer's Plan; making Alzheimer's disease research a priority at the National Institutes of Health; and strengthening federal programs serving people living with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.

Federal Priorities

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing crisis for our families and the economy. The federal government must address the challenges the disease poses and take bold action to confront this epidemic now. Here’s more information on the Alzheimer’s Association’s federal priorities including implementing the National Alzheimer’s Plan and increasing access to diagnosis and care planning.

Event Updates

Record Attendance for the 2017 Annual Advocacy Forum

A record-breaking number of Alzheimer’s advocates representing all 50 states and Puerto Rico gathered in Washington, D.C. for the annual Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum March 27-29. More than 1,300 Alzheimer's supporters, including 50 advocates from Ohio, met with members of Congress to ensure Alzheimer's remains a priority.

To prepare for meetings with legislators, advocates attended training sessions to learn about the latest tactics on how to advance the Association's federal priorities with Congress both in Washington, D.C. and back home. Throughout the Forum advocates heard from members of Congress as well as Richard Lui (MSNBC anchor) and Mike McCurry (former press secretary for the Clinton White House). Maria Shriver, journalist and advocate, received the Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the National Alzheimer’s Dinner. Actor and Alzheimer’s supporter Peter Gallagher served as the dinner’s emcee.

Forum activities concluded March 29 with countless meetings between advocates and legislators. Ohio advocates had the opportunity to meet with Senator Rob Portman and staff from Senator Sherrod Brown’s office, along with Congressional members and staff from across the state.

In addition to requesting a $414 million increase for Alzheimer’s research at NIH, the Association asked for support of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education Training Act (PCHETA). PCHETA (S. 693/H.R. 1676) would increase palliative care and hospice training for health care professionals, launch a national campaign to inform patients and families about the benefits of palliative care, and enhance research on improving the delivery of palliative care.

Alzheimer's is the most expensive disease in America costing the country $259 billion this year. The advocates who attended the Forum were taking steps to change the trajectory of this costly disease by sharing their stories and the impact of the disease.

For more on the Forum, visit www.alz.org/forum. 

Now is the time to be a voice for those suffering with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. If Alzheimer's disease continues on its current path, it is estimated that up to 16 million Americans will have this disease by 2050. Being an advocate will keep you informed of current and upcoming legislation that is designed to help increase the awareness of Alzheimer's disease, make Alzheimer's a priority for research funding and help families through support and other resources as they journey through this devastating disease. Once you have registered as an advocate, you will receive periodic e-mails with updated information and action alerts. The action alerts will request you send an e-mail or letter to your legislator to ask for their support. It is important to supply your address information which allows us to connect you directly with your legislator. Please register To become an advocate.