Building on the Alzheimer’s Association’s commitment to provide platforms of engagement for those directly affected by Alzheimer’s disease, the Association’s Mid South Chapter Southeast Office will hold a town hall on Aug. 30 to discuss the nation’s first National Alzheimer’s Plan and its implementation.
Town hall attendees will ask Congress to support this implementation with an additional $100 million for Alzheimer’s research, education, outreach and community support. During the event, members of the community will be encouraged to share their personal perspectives on what is needed in these key areas in order to best capitalize on this historic opportunity.
In 2011 the Alzheimer’s Association held 132 public input sessions around the country, giving the Alzheimer’s community an opportunity to shape the development of the National Alzheimer’s Plan. Tens of thousands of Americans participated. In the end, the sessions were about more than providing input; they were about affecting change and engaging state and federal lawmakers. The result of the input from attendees became the bedrock for the plan and helped make Alzheimer’s a national priority.
As many as 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including as many as 120,000 in Tennessee. The number of people living with this disease in the U.S. could climb to as high as 16 million by 2050. Caring for these individuals will cost the country more than $1 trillion annually, creating a strain on the healthcare system, families and federal and state budgets. As the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, Alzheimer’s is the only cause among the top 10 causes without a way to prevent, cure or even slow is progression.
Recognizing this rapidly escalating crisis, the nation’s first ever National Alzheimer’s Plan was unveiled in May and now it must be swiftly and effectively implemented, officials said. This town hall, along with the other town halls taking place throughout the country in August, will advance a critically important dialogue of how best to change the trajectory of this disease.
The town hall will be Thursday, Aug. 30, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road.
To learn more visit www.alz.org/plan or call 800.272-3900.