Raising Alzheimer's Awareness

In 2015 my husband and I gave up our life in North Carolina to relocate here to Indiana for the sole purpose of taking care of my mother who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. My father had been mom’s sole caregiver, but when he passed away unexpectedly, Robert and I had to act quickly and decisively. The five years we cared for Ms. Betty were the most challenging, yet the most rewarding. We were continuously seeking resources and support as mom’s care needs increased. Unfortunately, my mom lost her battle with Alzheimer’s in July 2020. Since her death, my husband and I have looked for ways to bring awareness to this disease and the enormous impact it has on the family and the community at large. We have increased our fundraising efforts over the past couple of years, and this year joined the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Team.

It is difficult to understand the toll this disease takes unless you have walked the journey, which is why advocacy is so important. The information that advocates provide will help Congress understand why it is important to support the Alzheimer’s Association policy priorities. Just as we had to act quickly and decisively, we are urging Congress to do the same. After a decade of securing historic increases in research funding, we are in a new era of the fight against Alzheimer’s, but we can’t stop now. We need Congress, including my Senators Mike Braun and Todd Young, to stay committed to investing in Alzheimer’s and dementia research by supporting our request of $318 million in dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health for fiscal year 2025.

We must continue investing in Alzheimer’s care and research to bring an end to this devasting disease. We can’t stop now! Visit alz.org to learn more.

Sincerely,

Debbie & Robert Montgomery