Sherrie, advocacy volunteer

Sherrie is a long-time Alzheimer’s Association advocacy volunteer and was a caregiver for her mother, who had Alzheimer’s.

Finally! Alzheimer’s is getting attention, and lots of it

Although there are occasional reports about a scientific breakthrough or positive legislation that’s been enacted, most stories about Alzheimer’s contain bad news. That makes me rejoice! Say what? That probably sounds perverse, so let me give you an example.

On April 4th, the New York Times’ front page screamed this headline: “Dementia Study Predicts a Surge in Cost and Cases.” Now, this is not news to those of us who have been following these issues for decades. We know that the cost associated with Alzheimer’s is skyrocketing; we know that the number of people with Alzheimer’s is projected to increase exponentially. But the main reason my heart does a little flip when I read such headlines is that – finally – Alzheimer’s is getting attention. And lots of it! And not just in scientific journals, but in mainstream media as well!

To a large extent, you have yourselves to thank for this. Continue reading “Finally! Alzheimer’s is getting attention, and lots of it” »

San Francisco’s Dementia Care Plan – We’re seeing progress!

Here’s what we know about San Francisco:

  • It’s a beautiful city.
  • To fully appreciate those gorgeous vistas, you have to hike up many hills, often at 90 degree angles.
  • The City is known for its sometimes wacky behavior and politics.
  • San Francisco is one of the most progressive cities when it comes to services for older adults and strives to be the most “dementia friendly” City on the planet!

This last item became crystal clear when a group of health care professionals and Alzheimer’s advocates convened last week to participate in an update on San Francisco’s efforts to improve dementia care in our community. Continue reading “San Francisco’s Dementia Care Plan – We’re seeing progress!” »

Where does your candidate stand on Alzheimer’s?

We will cast our votes for Congress and the Presidency a week from today. If you’re still trying to make up your mind about how to vote, remember to ask your candidates the following questions about where they stand on Alzheimer’s issues:

Congress required the creation of a National Alzheimer’s Plan.

With Walk around the corner, dreams about Mom start to change

In less than a month, thousands of people will gather in San Francisco for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, so I’m in a frame of mind that is slightly off topic.

Sherrie, Alzheimer’s Advocate, Caregiver, and Walk to End Alzheimer’s participant

Therefore, this entry is not about something I just read regarding the latest drug that has promise or the one that failed. It’s not about hounding you to write another letter or make one more phone call to insist that lawmakers fund more research or vote for legislation that makes living with Alzheimer’s more bearable. Instead, this is about my mother.

It could be that because the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is just around the corner, my dreams of my mom – who died in 2000 and for whom I had cared for many long years – are more present. Continue reading “With Walk around the corner, dreams about Mom start to change” »

The Longest Day: Use these hours to fight, fight, fight

Next comes a great reminder to use The Longest Day to get re-charged with inspiration to fight for this cause! Sherrie is a regular contributor to our blog and is a long time advocacy volunteer who lost her mother to Alzheimer’s.

I sleep pretty well now. This was not the case when my mother lived with me. We moved her cross country, from Florida to San Francisco, after my father died because we suspected she had Alzheimer’s disease. Although the signs were unmistakable – the memory loss, confusion, repeating herself and even getting lost on familiar streets – we resisted this reality for some time.  After all, my parents were still in their 60s when Dad died. It couldn’t be Alzheimer’s, could it? It could, and it was. Continue reading “The Longest Day: Use these hours to fight, fight, fight” »

We’re told to “Tell your story,” but does it really work?

Do you get tired of being asked to just “tell your story” when speaking to legislators? Do you wonder whether elected officials and policymakers really listen or event understand our message about living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease? We know how critical it is to relay this information, but it’s sometimes difficult to articulate exactly why these stories are so important. Continue reading “We’re told to “Tell your story,” but does it really work?” »

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