26 years ago, in 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer's Awareness Month. I got a late start this year, but maybe we can put together some ideas on: advocating for research
healthcare legislation
support for caregivers
awareness of programs available to LOs and caregivers
etc
etc
etc.
The Alzheimer's Association has an ADvocacy page, on its website, with many opportunities:
Alzheimer Advocacy
There are links to find and contact your elected officials.

Also, November 17, is National Memory Screening Day:
National Memory Screening
You got your mammies grammed? Now, get your head read!(I know, corny)
Pleaase feel free to add any ideas!
Nina

Thanks for making me aware of this..breast cancer does get so much media attention and that is wonderful..one of my good friends just did the 3day this past weekend...i wish we could get the same momentum going for AD...thank you so much for the Links..and I think your slogan: mammies grammied so get your head read is fantastic

kim

TTT

Thank you for the reminders, maebee!

We all need to get to work spreading the word and contacting EVERYONE we can (including our officials).


Thanks again.

TTT

TTT-it is still November!

I just found out, it is also "NATIONAL HOSPICE MONTH"!

John J. O'Connor III (spouse of retired Supreme Court Justice O'Connor) recently passed at age 79 from complications of AD and suffered from the disease for approximately two decades. If I'm understanding it correctly, that would mean he was stricken with the disease early onset.

I don't think the public in general notices when it happens to the elderly. I do wish more emphasis would be placed on early onset so more would understand they can be taken down in their prime, and it's far more than a memory problem.

Maebee, I guess we let things slip up on us, but perhaps we could begin preparing for November 2010! We could get organized and even go to Washington D.C. There has to be some help for the AD patient and their loved ones. Because my husband was early onset, I am living on a very tight budget, because the NH gets his checks. In the state of Alabama, if you have more than 1800 dollars coming in you can't have any of your spouses money. Now, we could all come up with some ideas to do, and what we want and start doing it. Write now!!! but organize now for next year.

ttt

quote:

Originally posted by Maggie How:
Maebee, I guess we let things slip up on us, but perhaps we could begin preparing for November 2010! We could get organized and even go to Washington D.C. There has to be some help for the AD patient and their loved ones. Because my husband was early onset, I am living on a very tight budget, because the NH gets his checks. In the state of Alabama, if you have more than 1800 dollars coming in you can't have any of your spouses money. Now, we could all come up with some ideas to do, and what we want and start doing it. Write now!!! but organize now for next year.

Maggie are you saying that if the healthy spouse gets more than $1800, all of the ALZ spouse goes to the NH?

I have already written to my state representatives, I take my Alzheimer Association Tote Bag to the grocery store, carry my Alzheimer Lunch Bag every day and have two 12" X 24" magnets on my car. I also talk with anyone who asks about my bags or magnets.

quote:

Originally posted by sanjosepat:
I have already written to my state representatives, I take my Alzheimer Association Tote Bag to the grocery store, carry my Alzheimer Lunch Bag every day and have two 12" X 24" magnets on my car. I also talk with anyone who asks about my bags or magnets.

YAY!
I almost always have my Grandma with me when we're out and it would upset her to have anyone come up to us and ask about a purple ribbon or AD merchandise, so I don't do any of that. BUT, I do contact my representatives very regularly.

TTT

I wish people cared as much about this disease as they do about rescusing dogs and cats.

quote:

Originally posted by Newbie Caregiver:
I wish people cared as much about this disease as they do about rescusing dogs and cats.

I hope it's okay to care about both and more. There's so much intense suffering in the world.