Alzheimer’s — the only leading cause of death in the U.S. that can’t be prevented, cured or even slowed — impacts 97,000 Minnesotans.
I am, and have been, a caregiver for two of them. On Feb. 22, the Alzheimer’s Association partnered with Aitkin County Care to host “Coffee with Congress” to discuss the emotional and financial impact of this disease in Aitkin and Crow Wing County with Congressman Pete Stauber.
Everyone in the room — advocates, caretakers and area professionals — had a connection to Alzheimer's.
We thank Rep. Stauber as well as Senators Klobuchar and Smith for passing a $350 million increase in dementia research at the National Institutes of Health and $10 million to fund the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act which addresses Alzheimer’s as a public health crisis. Our work is not done. We also seek to educate providers about the dementia care planning code available through Medicare in our Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act. In the Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Act, we ask that people under age 60 living with the disease are allowed access to critical programs under the Older Americans Act.
Rep. Stauber has committed to co-sponsor these acts. Please join me in thanking Rep. Stauber for his commitment to addressing Alzheimer’s in our community.
