September Advocacy Rally - Kansas City Power & Light District Advocate Charlie Miller talks with Missouri Representative Craig Bland and Dr. Melvin McFarland about upcoming priorities.

What is an advocate? Join the cause Act now Events Kansas advocacy Missouri advocacy Federal advocacy

What is an advocate?

Alzheimer advocates play an important role in improving the quality of care and quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families by working to improve dementia care and services; improve access to community-based care; improve quality care in residential settings; and expand funding for research and public programs serving people with dementia.

As an advocate, you will:

• Receive regular updates about current legislative and public policy issues.
• Stay on top of policy and legislative issues through alerts and updates.
• Make calls or write to legislators to forward public policy priorities to improve quality of life for those living with Alzheimer’s.  

Join the cause

The Alzheimer’s Association Heart of America Chapter invites you to become an Alzheimer advocate. Join us and speak up for the needs and rights of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

Add your voice to ours — become an advocate today.

Upcoming events

Many thanks to all who joined us for Memory Day in Jefferson City, Missouri!  Please mark your calendar for Memory Day 2010 on March 10th.

We are also in the planning stages for a fall advocacy rally.  More information to follow soon!

Missouri advocacy

Your Voice Makes a Difference!

 Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force

On 5/5/09 Missouri passed HB272 establishing an Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force to evaluate current needs and services and develop a plan to help confront the challenges of dealing with Alzheimer’s disease for future generations.

Findings and recommendations will be submitted to the General Assembly and the Governor in the fall/winter of 2010 and the task force will continue to meet through 2012 to implement and monitor the recommendations.

Alzheimer’s Service Grants

The Missouri General Assembly appropriated $539,000 to the Department of Health and Senior Services to ensure that vitally important Alzheimer’s programs and services continue to be delivered. 

The service grants also serve as a match for federal grants, bringing more than $2.5 million in federal funding to the state over the last eight years.

Kansas advocacy

  Alzheimer’s State Plan Task Force

As with chapters across Missouri, Kansas advocates have been campaigning for the creation of a task force to develop a statewide Alzheimer’s plan.  It, however, did not make it out of committee.  Eight town Hall meetings are being planned across the state, to clarify and strengthen understanding of state wide needs.  Results of the town hall meetings will be shared with the House Long Term Care and Aging committee.  In addition, the aging subcommittee of the Governor’s Mental Health Planning Committee will be creating an Alzheimer’s Task Force to explore gaps in services as it relates to assistance with the behavioral and affective symptoms of Alzheimer’s.  

 Loan Forgiveness for New Geriatricians

Kansas HB2297 passed on 3/27/09 which includes Geriatricians in the Kansas Loan Forgiveness Program. The portion of the bill that included loan forgiveness for Geriatric Psychiatrists was struck down in committee.

Federal advocacy

•  Federal update
•  National priorities