Sherry Lynn Harris and Jason Barnes, Field Representative to Congresswoman Julia Bromley, display letter Bromley sent Sherry thanking her for a copy of her book Adapting to Alzheimer's. Bromley states " Your story about how you cared for your mother while she endured Alzheimer's disease is profoundly impactful. I want to commend you on the compelling narrative you crafted. I sincerely appreciate you sharing your experience with me and so many others."

The main issues we were discussing with Rep. Bromley staff were the increase in research funding and thanking her for her support of:

The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (S. 857/H.R. 1559) is legislation that would:

• Provide Medicare coverage for comprehensive care planning services following a dementia diagnosis; the services would be available to both the diagnosed individual and his/her caregiver.
• Ensure that documentation of a dementia diagnosis and any care planning provided is included in an individual’s medical record.
• Require the Department of Health and Human Services to educate providers about the new benefit and to identify any barriers individuals face in accessing care planning.

In addition to calling on our elected officials, I also was able to meet and talk with Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice, who said she was inspired by her grandmother who had AD. 



The book is now a current movie starring Julianne Moore who won the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a woman with early onset Alzheimer’s.

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1vgJg2wryxpHyMyT22Cdw
Please subscribe to my new Youtube channel! Here we will be posting videos and podcast about information on how to "Adapt to Alzheimer."
 If you have any questions, would like to leave feedback, or have a request to talk about a specific issue, please leave a comment. Enjoy!

It was an exciting time when we turned Capitol Hill PURPLE on Alzheimer’s Advocate Day, March 25, 2015. I represented the caregiver’s point of view on our team, along with California’s Central Coast Chapter CEO Rhonda Spiegel, representing the Alzheimer’s Association, and Laurie Kreis, representing the point of view of dedicated workers at Alzheimer’s care centers. We were prepared with newly released facts, figures and talking points by the Alzheimer’s Association. 


Photo: Sherry with Alzheimer’s Association CEO - Harry Johns
            

Over a thousand advocates called on their Congressional Representatives and urged them to support this increase in funding.  We met with representatives for Lois Capp, whose district is Santa Barbara County CA, and Julia Bromley, whose district is Ventura County, CA.

 We thanked the Representatives for their previous support for the HOPE Act, which ensures Medicare coverage to doctors for taking necessary time, for a newly-diagnosed Alzheimer’s patient, to discuss with them and their caregivers what they can expect, and how to plan for it. We are happy to report both Representatives said they expected to again support the HOPE Act when it is reintroduced this session. Over a hundred Senators and Representatives have now signed on as co-sponsors.

 We were also pleased that both Capp and Bromley have joined the Task Force on Alzheimer’s, making awareness of Alzheimer’s disease a priority.  

 Of the Top Ten causes of death in the U.S. - #6 - Alzheimer’s is the ONLY one that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed.

The need is immediate and the time to invest in research is now!

Photo at Rep. Lois Capp’s office with Rhonda, Sherry, and Laurie