Governor Chet Culver, volunteers, Association
staff and legislators attended the offical signing
ceremony for SF489.
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Join the cause
The Alzheimer’s Association--East Central Iowa Chapter 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
Cedar Rapids Residents Head to Washington, D.C.
David and Kathy Good, Kelly Hauer, Debbie Jones, and Anne Salamon, all of Cedar Rapids, will be among hundreds of Alzheimer advocates from across the country headed to the nation’s capitol to participate in this year’s Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Forum to call attention to the looming Alzheimer epidemic.
"I’m one of millions of people in the United States affected by Alzheimer’s disease," said Debbie Jones, Alzheimer’s Association East Central Iowa Chapter Board President and National Board Member. "This disease doesn’t happen to individuals – it happens to families and communities. I am going to Washington to tell legislators how an Alzheimer diagnosis changes one’s life forever and the tremendous emotional and financial toll it poses. With an aging baby boomer population, it is more urgent than ever that federal research funding be increased in order to find effective disease modifying treatments and save others from suffering from this horrible disease."
Alzheimer advocates from 44 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada will converge on Washington, DC to participate in workshops on research, public policy, education and awareness. The three day Public Policy Forum commences with a National Early Stage Town Hall Meeting, which will provide those who have Alzheimer’s disease with the rare opportunity to discuss the unique challenges and issues they face while exchanging ideas, resources, and services with each other. The Public Policy Forum culminates on the third day as advocates gather in state delegations to meet with their elected officials on Capitol Hill to share their personal testimony about how Alzheimer’s has impacted their lives, families and communities.
Read about Debbie Jones, East Central Iowa Chapter Board President and national board member
Find out how you can participate
Advocacy opportunities are happening all over Iowa in preparation for the 2008 election. Share your personal Alzheimer's advocacy stories and experiences while at our national Election 2008 Website.
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.
Iowa advocacy
The Alzheimer's Association East Central Iowa Chapter works closely together with other Alzheimer's Association Chapters serving Iowa to collaborate on state issues relevant to our constituent concerns.
Recent work of the Alzheimer's Association Iowa Chapter Network:
- In April 2007, the Iowa Chapter Network won significant legislation for Iowans with Alzheimer's and their families. Great Job! Governor Culver signed SF489, a law that establishes a statewide Alzheimer's disease task force to assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's on the state.
- The task force will develop a state government Alzheimer's disease strategy to mobilize a state response to this public health crisis.
- There will be opportunities for public feedback on the plan over the next 8 months. We will share information on how you can participate as more is known.
- To learn more about our state issues, please sign up on this page to receive regular updates. Or Email Kelly.Hauer@alz.org for more information.
Federal advocacy
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