I visited the office of PA Congressman Holden's (R) office today along with another Advocate to discuss the following issues. Constituent Service Representive Michael P. Vigoda was kind enough to meet with us and vowed to take our message to Congressman Holden.

August 09 Recess
District Meeting Talking Points


Nearly 400,000 Pennsylvanians have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. It impacts entire families including upwards of 1 million PA caregivers.
There are about 2,500 Constituents in the 17th district that are effected by Early On-Set Alzheimer's. Cut down before age 65.


Health care reform must include improved long-term services and supports, such as those found in the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS Act)
(S. 697/H.R. 1721).

Personally, I don't want to force hospitals to perform abortions and I believe that all humans are worth our very best medical attention for their entire life. Please be careful to not interfer with those inaillenable rights.


At any one time, 70% of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are living at home.

The CLASS Act outlines a new nationwide voluntary insurance program that provides support, services and cash payouts for long-term care and provides help for people with Alzheimer’s disease to remain at home.


The Alzheimer's Breakthrouch Act calls for Congress to significantly increase funding for Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to $2 billion.

Pass health care reform this year that includes long-term services and supports for the 5.3 million people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

2. Cosponsorthe Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act of 2009.

People with cognitive impairment comprise:Many people with Alzheimer’s disease are eventually placed into long-term care facilities, usually paid for by Medicaid. At any one time, 70 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are living at home. About 10 million Americans are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or another dementia – 25 percent of them are providing 40 hours a week or more of care. The CLASS Act outlines a nationwide voluntary insurance program that provides support, services and cash payouts for long-term care and provides help for people with Alzheimer’s disease to remain at home.

At least 50 percent of older adult day care participants

About 37 percent receive home care servicesBetween 45-67 percent of assisted living residentsAbout 70 percent of all nursing home residents


Health Care Reform Request:

Co-sponsorship sends signal to the Nation that Congress is determined to overcome the quickly growing Alzheimer’s crisis.In addition, it provides much needed support for caregivers and calls for a National Summit on Alzheimer's.

B]Co-sponsor th Alzheimer's Breakthough Act of 2009 (s. 1492/H.R. 3286)[/B]
Significantly increases Alzheimer’s research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to $2 billion.

Health Care Reform (IMPORTANT NOTE: The Association has not endorsed any specific health reform plan. While provisions of the CLASS Act are included in the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee health reform bills, this does not mean that they will be in the final Health Care bill. There are still elements that we want in the final legislation missing from both of these bills, and these elements are specific to the needs of those with Alzheimer's, not a general statement of support/opposition/etc. on how health care reform should look).

Co-sponsorship Request:

Provides much needed support for caregivers.

1,000,000 very interested Pennsylvanians!
Every 70 seconds somebody else is diagnosed with Alzheimer's

1 in 3 people know someone with Alzheimer's

1.74% of your constituents have EOAD! That should be about 600 with EOAD and a possible 2,500 or more that are effected.

Alzheimer's and dementia triple healthcare costs for Americans


Costs of Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, $148 billion each year.

1989-1990, president George HW Bush creates the Office of National Service in the White House and the Points of Light Foundation to foster volunteering. (Grassroots Volunteerism)

8/5/2004, Ronald Reagan ( R) dies after Alzheimer's battle
This president won Cold War, reinvigorated U.S. morale

　. At 93 he was the nations longest living ex-president.


8/5/2004, Reagan ( R) dies after Alzheimer's battle. As President won Cold War, reinvigorated U.S. morale

Please visit:
http://www.youngerjourney.com and leave a note with some encouragement for your effected constituents.



My partner, Steve lives and works in the 19th district. I live across the river in Lower Allan township' But am working with the Greater PA Alzheimer's Association as a facilatator of Younger Journery, will be working with your constituents. I'm a vetern of the Vietnam era.with a honorable discharge.

Talk about a waste due to Alzheimer's, I have 11 years of education and 30 years experience as a Sr. Engineer. My education was as hard fought for as Congressman Holden's. Now I'm retired because I can't concerntrate or remember instructions. My short term memory is shot!.

Dear Tom,
Thank you for the very thorough report of your visit to your Congressman. I wish all congressional representatives could have this knowledge.

Iris L.

Since I can't stay focused long enough to keep a job, I try to keep active anyway. Going to the Congressman with another indvidual that can is the best I can do! Sally L. is a fantastic advocate with an extensive legal background. Her and I plan to team up and do a lot of this type of activity.

Hi Ttom. Thanks for the report on your visit. I, along with another afdvocate and an Alz. staff person, will be visiting the office of our Congressman Chris Carney this week. He has been a terrific champion of Alzheimer causes. Unless prvented by activities in DC he will be the main speaker at two Memory Walks in his district in the following weeks.

Those of us who can maneuver in the computer world, if not able to visit a congressional office in person, can let our views be known by accessing our legislators websites and clicking on a link, usually called 'contact me'. You can use Ttom's letter, or look for my commments elsewhere on the Board. (I think you can do this by just clicking on my name. my other posts show up.)

We all need to make our voices known. And please urge your relatives and friends to do likewise.

Dear Tom,

Thanks so much for all your hard work and your great reports and updates.

Like Mimi, I do a lot of talking via e-mail to my Senators and Congressman.

Keep up the good work! I hope others follow your lead!