Alzheimer's Awareness

So, today was an interesting day. First off, something you need to understand about Capitol Hill is that every year around this time, hundreds (if not thousands) of awareness/advocacy groups flock to the halls of Congress to meet with Senators and Congressmen to push for their cause. Most are seeking federal funding in some form, many are pushing for specific bills, others are just there to make their presence and influence known. This type of thing happens year-round but early spring is always a major, major push time because that's when Congress gets down to the business of writing appropriations bills--deciding who gets what. It's always an interesting time to be up there, and in my checkered history on the Hill, is something I've managed to witness firsthand for four out of the (now) six springs I've lived here.

It can also be a real pain because, as a staffer for a Senator or Congressman, your days are nothing but back-to-back-to-back meetings with people with a cause (often a good and important cause), which is (I understand) exhausting and frustrating because you, the staffer, can't really do all that much in the grand scheme of things. For other Hill staff, from committee staff like myself, to maintenance staff to tour guides it basically means very full and busy hallways (so much so that it's often hard to carry on a telephone conversation if your desk is too near the door, the noise can be so great), endless waits for elevators, and lunch lines so long that just getting your food takes up your entire lunch half-hour.

Which brings me to today. Today, the Alzheimer's Association was out in force. They were easily recognizable because they wore purple--purple ties, sashes, jackets...anything purple. This stands out, and is actually something that most organizations do not do (with notable exceptions, of course). Anyway, they were the most out-in-force group I've seen yet this cycle and I think it's a good thing (lunch lines notwithstanding).

My family has a long and personal history with this terrible disease, and even if we didn't, I still think that this is a major issue that MUST be addressed and fast, or we're all in hot water. Basically, it's a disease that cannot be prevented, that is LONG (10-15 YEARS), and extremely expensive to manage. By the end, the patient needs help with even the most basic of tasks. This disease absolutely will bankrupt Medicare and Medicaid . One in every seven people over the age of 65 will get the disease. One in every two people over the age of 85 will. Think of those numbers. One in seven people with an expensive and long disease! We have these people known as the baby boomers who are starting to push that age envelope. We, as a nation, are going to spend massive amounts of money treating this disease because we won't spend any reasonable amount searching for a cure, which is particularly odd because when given the proper tools, researchers DO make great strides.

Anyway. Back to today. It was Alzheimer's Day in DC today. My uncle has done a lot of work with the Alzheimer's Association over the years, and has worked hard to bring attention in the media to this disease, its victims and their families, and the urgent need for federal research funding. You can read his article about it (and his personal journey to get his DNA tested) here (complete with a photo of my grandmother and my cousin Rebecca when she was wee). And if you're still interested, you can watch the story he did here.  Because of these efforts, the Alzheimer's Association presented him with their Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award at their gala this evening. 

I got dolled up in my black tie best in the gym at work and headed to the National Building Museum for the event. I generally strongly dislike these sorts of events (mingling isn't my strong suit and I cannot bloody stand how people talk to you at these things--always looking over your shoulder for someone more important to talk to), but tonight's was (oddly) enjoyable. Rebecca and her parents were there, and it was good to see Terry and Karen--the only real difficult part of giving up my car is that getting to their house is now significantly more complicated and Sunday dinners aren't as frequent as they used to be, and so I don't see them half as much as I used to. Terry gave a very moving acceptance speech, and on the whole (apparently) the evening managed to raise over $1 million for the Association. It's strange being so dressed up and out so late on a Tuesday, but it was a very special evening and I'm glad I was there.

And a little plug, please go check out the Alzheimer's Association's website. They're far more knowledgeable and articulate on this topic than I am. You don't need to volunteer or donate, but if you understand the call for alarm and want to do something about it, please contact your Senators and Congressman.

Comments

[JulesWdr]

Great Post. As you say, this is a major issue and awareness about this must be raised, and we must address the fact that no cure or treatment yet found, so what are we going to do? There is a new documentary film out that we just saw on DVD that address part of the question -- and how the arts are helping these people and their caregivers. The film is called "I Remember Better When I Paint". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54AtoQVGfwU