Join the cause
The Alzheimer’s Association — Eastern Tennessee Chapter invites you to become an Alzheimer's 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.
Alzheimer's disease is a public health problem and the Alzheimer's Association has played an active role in ensuring that legislators on both the national and state levels pursue programs that will provide the assistance required by our families.
ADVOCACY means, “giving voice.” You are invited to be a “voice” for the 23,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and their care partners in East Tennessee. While many have been silenced by this disease, their stories need to be told. You can help--become an advocate and get involved!
Each spring, the Eastern Tennessee Chapter sends representatives to talk with our legislators in Nashville. We also send representatives to the Alzheimer's National Public Policy Forum held in Washington, D.C.
Upcoming events
Spring 2010
Legislative Day: Take your voice to Nashville with us!
The Alzheimer’s Association annually sponsors a trip to the State Legislature to provide constituents the opportunity to share their stories and concerns about Alzheimer’s with their lawmakers.
- Participants will travel to Nashville on a chartered bus.
- Lunch will be provided.
The advocates are the “voice” for the nearly 23,000 individuals living with Alzheimer’s and their care partners in East Tennessee. Team leaders arrange appointments and guide groups of volunteers to legislators’ offices.
The Eastern Tennessee Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association will host an Advocacy Training seminar to prepare individuals to be effective advocates. Call the Alzheimer's Association at (865) 544-6288 or e-mail kay.watson@alz.org for information on how you can be a part of Legislative Day.
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.
Tennessee advocacy
As the primary advocate addressing Alzheimer’s related issues, the Alzheimer’s Association believes a comprehensive strategy plan will allow our state government to address the Alzheimer’s epidemic with a knowledgeable, integrated and cost-effective approach.
Executive Director Janice Wade-Whitehead serves on the Tennessee Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force comprised of governor appointees who are working on recommendations on how to provide the infrastructure needed to meet the growing needs of the Alzheimer’s community in the next decade. The report, which will include Phase 1, will be submitted to the TN Governor and General Assembly in February 2009.
Federal advocacy
| 
