Alzheimer’s

Letter to the editor:

Federal Updates
The Georgia Alzheimer’s Association Delegation painted DC purple earlier this month for the annual Advocacy Forum! We met with all 14 of our Congressional Members, as well as the Offices of Senator Jon Ossoff and Senator Raphael Warnock.

The focus of our efforts on Capitol Hill was centered around our fight for treatment access. As you already know, exciting new clinical trial results show great promise for treating early Alzheimer’s, giving renewed hope for effective treatments. But the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to severely restrict access to these treatments. NEVER BEFORE has CMS imposed such drastic barriers to access FDA-approved drugs.
To be clear, every FDA-approved drug is covered by Medicare, except for Alzheimer's. For people facing a fatal disease, this is unjustified, harmful and unfair. We need to tell policy makers it’s time to put effective treatments into the hands of those with early Alzheimer’s as quickly as possible.
Please take a moment to ask President Biden and your members of Congress to help by urging CMS to provide full coverage for FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs just as it does for FDA-approved drugs for every other disease.

State Updates
The 2023 legislative session ended last Wednesday and we had some BIG WINS in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget!

• Funding for respite services for dementia caregivers: $1M has been included in the FY24 budget for dementia caregivers to access much needed respite services.

• Funding for Home and Community-Based Services: $5.4+ million has been included in the FY24 Department of Human Services budget for non-Medicaid HCBS services. Medicaid HCBS providers received a much needed 4% reimbursement rate increase. This rate increase is a little more than $10 million added to the Department of Community Health budget for these necessary support services. These state funding investments will help to ensure individuals with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias and their caregivers have the supportive services so they can remain at home or in their community.

Upcoming Events in Your Community
Effective Communication Strategies for Alzheimer's and Dementia
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM EDT
Skylark Adult Day Center of Johns Creek
4265 Johns Creek Parkway
Suite B
Johns Creek, GA 30024
Communicating with an individual living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia is challenging. As the disease progresses, individuals lose the ability to use words, but families can find new ways to connect. We’ll explore how communication changes, learn how to interpret verbal and behavioral signals, and identify strategies for connection.
Register at this link: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ejogwumdb8fc123c&llr=48ffxxxab
Effective Communication Strategies for Alzheimer's and Dementia
Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM EDT
Skylark Adult Day Center of Johns Creek
120 Interstate North Parkway East, SE
Suite 420
Atlanta, GA 30339
Communicating with an individual living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia is challenging. As the disease progresses, individuals lose the ability to use words, but families can find new ways to connect. We’ll explore how communication changes, learn how to interpret verbal and behavioral signals, and identify strategies for connection.
Register at this link: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ejogwumb7d1f63db&llr=48ffxxxab
Dementia Conversations
Monday, April 17, 2023 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center
4 Center Drive, Fayetteville, GA 30214
Communication is more than just talking and listening, it is also about sending and receiving messages through attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions and body language. As people with dementia progress and the ability to use words is lost, families need new ways to connect. Join the Alzheimer’s Association as they share strategies for having difficult, but important, conversations about changes that may be related to memory and behavior of dementia.
Register by calling: 770-461-0813
Understanding & Responding to Behaviors
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Thrive at Augusta
313 Furys Ferry Rd.
Martinez, GA 30907
Through practical information, resources, and interviews with experts, this program will help caregivers to address the challenges of dementia-related behavior.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/ThriveBehaviors or call 800-272-3900.

Managing Money: A Caregiver's Guide to Finances
Wednesday, April 19th, 2023 from 11 AM to -12 PM
Leroy Rogers Senior Center
315 W 2nd St
Tifton, GA 31794
This free education program will feature tips for managing someone else's finances, how to prepare for future care costs, and the benefits of early planning.
Register by calling 800-272-3900.
Memories Matter: Alzheimer's Community Forum
Thursday, April 20, 2023 from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Pierce Memorial United Methodist Church
1441 Jackson Rd, Augusta, GA 30909
Join us for a community listening session on Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and memory loss. By attending this community forum, you'll have the opportunity to share your personal experience with Alzheimer's disease and dementia as well as give input on how the Association can best serve your community. Light refreshment will be provided.
Register at tinyurl.com/AugustaCF or call 800-272-3900.
Understanding Alzheimer's & Dementia
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
First Baptist Church Fort Oglethorpe
2645 Lafayette Rd. Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742
Join us to learn about the impact of Alzheimer's, the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia, stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available for some symptoms, and Alzheimer's Association resources.
Register at https://tinyurl.com/FBCFOUAD or call 800-272-3900.
Gwinnett County Community Forum
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Rhodes Jordan Park-Community Rec Center
100 East Crogan Street Lawrenceville, GA 30046
Join us for a community listening session on Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and memory loss. By attending this community forum, you'll have the opportunity to share your personal experience with Alzheimer's disease and dementia as well as give input on how the Association can best serve your community. Light refreshment will be provided.
Register at tinyurl.com/GwinnettCF or call 800-272-3900.
Thank you all so much for your time and for your commitment to ending Alzheimer’s!
Please reach out with any questions you may have. We are here to help!
18002723900. #ENDALZ