Join the cause Act now Events What is an advocate? Kentucky advocacy Indiana advocacy Federal advocacy

Join the cause

The Alzheimer’s Association--Greater Kentucky & Southern Indiana 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.

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.

Kentucky advocacy

State Plan Addresses Alzheimer’s Disease in Kentucky

This roadmap for state government addresses the current and future needs of Kentucky’s growing population with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. It was presented to the General Assembly on January 30, 2008.

View the Plan

It highlights critical areas of improving state services, quality care, family support and Medicaid. For a summary of recommendations and more information about the plan, call  800.272.3900.

Now it is up to us to advocate for these policy changes. Call us if you want to help. Thanks! 1.800.272.3900


Kentucky Platform Outlines State Alzheimer’s Issues

Alzheimer’s Association public policy priorities for Kentucky for 2009 can be viewed by clicking here.


Helpful Links & Information:

Information about the Kentucky Legislature, including meetings, legislators and bills: KY Legislature Information

How to find out your state representative and senator: Find your legislator

Governor’s message line: 502-564-2611

To leave a message for a legislator in Frankfort: 1–800- 372-7181

Share Your Story!
Do you have a personal story to share? Do you have ideas about how services could be improved? Please contact ellen.kershaw@alz.org or at (502) 451-4266 to find out how you can let the policymakers know what needs to be done.

Indiana advocacy

Alzheimer’s Association public policy priorities for Indiana for 2009 can be viewed by clicking here.

Federal advocacy 

Chapter advocates from Kentucky and southern Indiana joined with hundreds of others from across the country at the annual Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. in March. We met with our members of Congress and their staff and personally expressed:

• The urgency of increasing the allocation for Alzheimer research by $250 million in the 2010 fiscal year federal budget: medical research is needed to treat and to develop ways to prevent the disease; and
• The need to phase out Medicare’s two-year waiting period so individuals with Alzheimer’s are eligible for Medicare immediately after they receive their determination of disability.

Mark your calendar: Plan to attend next year’s Public Policy Forum. It will be held in Washington, D.C. March 7-9, 2010. This is an opportunity to learn about key policy priorities and meet face-to-face with your Members of Congress to educate them about Alzheimer's disease and its potentially devastating effect on our country's economy, businesses and citizens.

Contact Ellen Kershaw at 502 451-4266 or e-mail ellen.kershaw@alz.org.

•  Federal update
•  National priorities