Join the cause
The Alzheimer’s Association 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.
Add your voice to ours — become an advocate today.
Upcoming events
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.
Delaware advocacy
- Delaware Regional office is building on its Advocacy Committee so that we can make a difference in Delaware’s care of persons with Alzheimer’s Disease. Our committee will review legislation passed in our neighboring states and using those pieces of legislation as models that we will present to our Delaware legislators. If you are interested in helping us to make a difference, please contact Siobhan Gannon at (302) 633-4420 or via e-mail at: Siobhan.Gannon@alz.org
- Our State Treasurer, Jack Markell, released a wonderful document entitled, “Delaware Facing Forward, a Look at Delaware’s Demographic Future.” It is a look at Delaware’s future through the lens of shifting demographics over the next 25 years and their effects on our state’s financial future. Not only is our population growing, but the growth is in the over 65 population. Remember, age is the number one risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. You may download the report at: www.Treasurer.Delaware.gov This document will help us build our case for the needs of our senior population in Delaware.
Southern New Jersey advocacy
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The South Jersey Advocacy Committee interacts with state and federal legislators in an attempt to introduce, sponsor and pass legislation related to the challenges New Jersey residents face when confronting Alzheimer’s disease issues. Their advocacy includes promotion the need for research funding; ensuring physical, psychological and financial resources for the caregivers; providing the highest quality health care services and facilities; and increasing public awareness. The committee welcomes new members and extends an invitation to those who want to help lend their voice to the fight to make sure those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are truly represented by their government. Contact Linda Coppinger at 856-797-1212 or linda.coppinger@alz.org for information.
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Platform 2007-2008
Southeastern Pennsylvania advocacy
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Pennsylvania General Assembly - Find your senator and representative, search for bills from the current and prior legislative sessions, get directions to the Capitol building and much, much more!
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Assisted Living News - We are keeping a close eye on the PA Bulletin for the posting of the assisted living regulations for public review and comment. The regulations were developed by Cabinet-level policy staff, along with the input of a stakeholder workgroup, with membership appointed by the Secretaries of Aging and Public Welfare. The Alzheimer's Association was part of the workgroup process and was pleased to see increased dementia-specific provisions in the final draft language of the proposed regulations. We will be sure to notify our advocacy network when the regulations are available. Contact michelle.seitzer@alz.org for more information.
- Family Caregiver Support Bill - Follow this link to check on the status of the Family Caregiver Support bill. Caregivers who are eligible for this program have not seen an increase in reimbursement since the program's inception in 1990. The bill currently sits in the Senate Appropriations committee, to which it was referred in January 2008. If you or anyone you know is or has been enrolled in the state-funded program and would like to share their story about how the program helped support their caregiving responsibilities, please contact michelle.seitzer@alz.org or call 717.651.5020, ext. 124. We do hope to see final passage of this bill before the end of the current legislation. More to come on other ways for advocates to help move this legislation to the Governor's Desk!
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- 20th Annual Public Policy Forum - Follow the link to view photos and read a summary on the 20th Annual Public Policy Forum and "Day on the Hill" in Washington, DC. Pennsylvania advocates placed THIRD in the country for the total number of virtual visits made this year!
For more details on the Forum, visit http://www.alz.org/publicpolicyforum/08/overview.asp.
Save the Date! Next year’s Forum will be held March 23-25, 2009 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.
- State Plan on Aging Advocacy - Several members of the Coalition attended the Public Hearing on the draft of the Department of Aging's State Plan in Philadelphia on Friday, June 6th. Coalition Chair, Bob Marino, presented testimony to a panel of Department staff on behalf of the Coalition. He did an excellent job of outlining the major challenges that Alzheimer’s presents as they seek to deliver services to older Pennsylvanians; he also noted that we stand ready and able to help meet those challenges.
As a follow-up note, Department staff recently notified us regarding a change in the draft to reflect new objectives dealing specifically with Alzheimer’s. We consider this a major victory that could not have been achieved without the help of our advocates and staff who attended and actively participated in all the Town Hall meetings hosted this winter, submitted comments, or filled out the online survey – all giving voice to the need for Alzheimer-specific goals in the State Plan. Great work!
- Summer/Fall 2008 Legislation Update - View the key pieces of legislation that the PA Public Policy Coalition is currently monitoring.
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Federal advocacy
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