Town Hall meeting with State Senator Dave Koehler on June 16
Posted by Debbie Adlof on June 12th, 2008
46th District Illinois State Senator Dave Koehler will present a public town hall meeting on Monday June 16, at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Peoria office, 606 W. Glen Ave. in
Peoria from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Koehler seeks input from the public on experiences with Alzheimer’s caregiving, to help make the case for increased state funding for Alzheimer’s care and research.
Koehler will present public input as part his case to the State of Illinois. Koehler will present to the state his belief that more needs to be done in Illinois to help caregivers and persons with Alzheimer’s. All members of the public are encouraged to attend, and not just those within Koehler’s district.
In 2009 the Illinois General Assembly is expected to draft legislation to fund Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, after receiving the Alzheimer’s Disease State Plan, which is currently in development by the seven subcommittees of the Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force.
The Alzheimer’s Disease State Plan was established by the 1985 Alzheimer’s Disease Assistance Act which requires the Illinois Department of Health to provide the state with an Alzheimer’s disease assistance plan. The plan includes measures such as increasing public awareness about Alzheimer’s, developing and obtaining funding for services, improving patient care, and enhancing research.
Today, Alzheimer’s disease affects more than half million Illinois caregivers and persons with the disease. By 2025 it is estimated that 240,000 people in Illinois alone will have the disease. The causes for Alzheimer’s disease are unknown and there is no prevention or cure, although there are promising vaccines under research. The incidence of the disease is expected to increase each year due to longer life expectancies.
For each individual with the disease, there are countless family members, friends, or other caregivers who are personally or professionally committed to providing needed support and compassion.
If your life has been touched by Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, Illinois State Senator Dave Koehler and the Alzheimer’s Association, Central Illinois Chapter, would like to hear from you to “recommend changes to improve the state’s response to this serious health problem and develop a strategy to implement an Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Related Dementia State Plan in response to this public health crisis.”
Please come out to the agency at 606 W. Glen Ave. in Peoria, IL, on June 16 at 6:30 p.m. to voice your support for Alzheimer’s funding–voice your observations, experiences and any suggestions you have about how to improve the services and resources in Illinois that are available to support persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.