Alzheimer’s Town Hall Meeting Planned For Everett Next Week

August 16, 2014

Events in Everett, Everett

Alzehimer's Assn

Click on the logo to learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association in WA

Everett is one of a dozen cities with town hall meetings to raise awareness of the Alzheimer’s Association. The group is expanding its efforts to speak up for the needs and rights of people with Alzheimer’s and their families, and help persuade elected officials to address those needs through legislative action. Here are the details on Wednesday’s meeting…

On August 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Gipson Senior Center, 3025 Lombard Ave in Everett Washington, the Alzheimer’s Association, Western and Central Washington Chapter will hold a town hall meeting to highlight—and solicit feedback on—public policy priorities, including the National Alzheimer’s Plan, an Alzheimer’s Disease Plan for Washington State, and Voices for Better Health in Washington State, a new initiative to improve health care for “dual eligibles”, older and disabled Washingtonians who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Community members, including those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, their caregivers, and elected officials and representatives from federal, state, and local government as well as the research, health and long-term care communities are invited to come, learn, and share their thoughts. Other town halls are scheduled for Bremerton, East Wenatchee, Issaquah, Kelso, Mount Vernon, Olympia, Richland, Sequim, Spokane, Tacoma, Tukwila, Yakima, and Coeur d’Alene ID.

Each town hall will include a panel reflecting the breadth and depth of the Alzheimer’s experience. The Alzheimer’s Association’s objective is to educate the public, solicit input, and provide an opportunity for the community to interact with elected leaders. All public input will be recorded and used to inform the Association’s work in advancing public policy priorities to better meet the needs of individuals, families, and communities as they cope with the devastating emotional and economic effects of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Alzheimer’s disease is the third leading cause of death in Washington State and sixth nationally. Over 5 million Americans, including 100,000 Washingtonians, are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and as many as 16 million Americans will have the disease in 2050. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to total $214 billion in 2014, increasing to $1.2 trillion (in today’s dollars) by mid-century. Nearly one in three seniors who dies each year has Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

To learn more about a town hall taking place in a community near you, visit www.alzwa.org/.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit www.alz.org.

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