Promoting Alzheimer’s Awareness

To the editor:

I know first-hand how challenging it can be to confront Alzheimer’s/dementia. After my mother passed away in 2016, my 87-year-old father with Alzheimer’s came to live with me. Now millions
of people across the nation including 320,000 in Illinois are facing this challenge with the added strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. In these difficult times, I am asking Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky to take action through the next legislative stimulus package to include important measures to support this vulnerable population.

First, the Promoting Alzheimer’s Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act would assist Department of Justice professionals who support victims of abuse living with Alzheimer’s and other
dementia in order to improve the quality of their interactions with this vulnerable population, and help protect them from elder abuse. Second, the Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act would increase the use of the care planning benefit available through Medicare in order to help more families. Finally, nonprofits like the Alzheimer’s Association continue to provide tremendous
support to the communities they serve, despite facing economic hardships.
Congress should establish an exclusive fund to support nonprofits with between
500 to 10,000 employees, including loan forgiveness, to ensure these
organizations can continue to effectively serve the communities that depend on
them.

Congresswoman Schakowsky, please support these three bipartisan measures in the next COVID-19 response legislation to provide critical support for at risk populations.

Carmel Medard

1501 Dobson Street

Evanston, IL 60202