Seniors For Living

Maria Shriver. Newt Gingrich. Sandra Day O’Connor. These high-profile advocates testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging on Wednesday, March 25th with one common goal: Congress must act now to address the public health crisis of Alzheimer’s. And for a disease as devastating (and with effects as far-reaching) as Alzheimer’s, it will take more than just the efforts of Congress and all the high-profile leaders in the country to do it. Shriver, Gingrich, O’Connor and a number of other testifiers confirmed that that reality as they spoke to the Committee.

On that morning, the Senate Dirksen hearing room was filled not only with members of the press wanting to catch a glimpse or get a quote from Shriver or Gingrich, but also with a strong contingent of Alzheimer’s Association staff and volunteers donning purple sashes and armed with data from the Association’s newly released (as of March 24th) Facts & Figures report. This grassroots network had also been inspired and empowered by educational sessions at the two-day Public Policy Forum (sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association) that preceded this Senate hearing, and everyone in the room was exhilirated by the passion and commitment set forth by Shriver and her colleagues on the Alzheimer’s Study Group (ASG, a high-level, bi-partisan task force co-chaired by Gingrich and former Senator Bob Kerrey from Nebraska).

Shriver shared her personal experience with Alzheimer’s in the shape of her father, Sargent Shriver, who is still battling the disease at age 93 (diagnosed in 2003). Recommendations laid out by the ASG were shared by Gingrich, Kerrey and O’Connor, and included the need for public-private partnerships and better coordinated care for those with Alzheimer’s.

During the hearing, hundreds of Alzheimer advocates met with their individual members of Congress, seeking their support on three priority policy issues. It was truly a banner week in terms of awareness, media coverage, and attention from legislators and the public on all things Alzheimer’s; I was thrilled to be right in the middle of it all, thanks to my position as an Alzheimer’s Association staff member.

I was inspired by Maria Shriver, but I also found great inspiration in mentoring first-time advocate attendees from my home state of Pennsylvania – many of whom had never before made a legislative visit. Although exhausting, it was a phenomenal three days, and I returned from our nation’s capital invigorated and ready to take the Alzheimer cause to the next level.

For a compilation of the week’s events (including a link to the Facts & Figures report, Forum photos, and a webcast of the Senate hearing), visit www.alz.org. To find out more about Alzheimer’s Care options near you, click into our Alzheimer’s Care portal.

-Michelle Seitzer