To the editor:

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month as well as National Caregivers Month. It seems fitting that these two recognitions should coincide. Today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease including 400,000 here in New York. Caring for these individuals are an estimated 1,014,000 family caregivers who are truly on the front lines of the fight against Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Unfortunately, many of those living with these diseases and their families are not provided with essential care planning services, education and knowledge of both medical and non-medical treatments available to them. Evidence has shown that accessing these services will result in a higher quality of life, of which we are all entitled.

We are both professional and personal caregivers. We have lived the experience of losing family members to Alzheimer’s disease and feeling devastatingly helpless and unaware of how to help and support our loved ones. This has shaped our professional careers to focus on advocating, educating and supporting the changes needed within our healthcare system.

Today, we are requesting that you join us in asking Congressman John Katko to co-sponsor the current congressional legislation entitled The Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act. This legislation strengthens earlier legislation that provides for critical care planning services for individuals with dementia and their families. The current legislation will further inform and educate providers on the positive value and importance that the provision of these services will afford their patients and caregivers. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is devastating for both the patient and the caregivers. Let’s do what we can to ease their burden.

For more information, please refer to the supporting sponsors, the Alzheimer’s Association and its advocacy arm, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement.

Cynthia Nigolian and Mary Koenig

Volunteer Advocates for the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY