As usual, I was running late for an
appointment this morning. As I turned onto the highway, I noticed my Sedalia Democrat had been delivered to
my paper box. Deciding I could be on time if I didn’t waste the couple of
minutes to pick up the paper, I left it.
After my appointment, I made my
usual stop at Walmart. As I pushed my cart into the parking lot, I had to
battle the wind to keep the cart going forward instead of sideways. Talk about
a strong wind. The wind buffeted my car on the way home, and I parked at the
end of the driveway to get my paper and mail. The paper was gone. I looked
around and found it lying in the ditch.
After I retrieved the paper, I
grabbed a stack of mail out of the mailbox. The wind ripped a few pieces out of
my hands and whimsically scattered them into the aforementioned ditch. Have you
ever chased paper that a gust of wind takes out of your reach time after time?
The Bob Dylan song “Blowin’ in the
Wind” came to mind. Bits and pieces of the lyrics teased my memory. I
remembered unanswered questions about manhood, white doves, cannon balls,
mountains washing to the sea, and pretending not to notice freedom lost.
The most haunting line in Dylan’s
song is about too many people dying. Every year 700,000 people die from
Alzheimer’s, and so far we haven’t been able to do one thing to stop it. Not
one single thing!
Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth
leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 5.4 million people
are living, and dying, with the disease. Around 200,000 people younger than age
65 have Alzheimer’s. Many are much, much younger.
Each year I join other advocates
nationally to advocate for more research funds. In our packets, we have
information that compares research funds for Alzheimer's to the amount
allocated to fight other diseases. This dedication to fighting diseases has
paid big dividends. At one time, a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was a death sentence.
Research has played a huge role in finding effective treatments for cancer and
heart disease.
Lately, two promising drug
therapies failed during drug trials. When these treatments failed, we were disappointed,
but we haven’t given up!
Some of the brightest minds are
working diligently to cure this incurable disease. In the meantime, it is
important that caregivers and persons with dementia have the care and support
they need to live life to the fullest. Those on the front lines need respite,
home and community based support, family support, and a reason to hope. They
need to know that we have their backs.
I was at the Missouri State Capitol
on Memory Day advocating for respite funds. The Missouri state budget has been
slashed, including a big reduction in the $450,000 service grants that our
friends, neighbors, and families rely on for respite. This is a case of saving
pennies and costing dollars. Respite helps keep persons with Alzheimer’s at
home longer. A simple formula shows a possible cost savings of $2 million for
the state. Here’s how it works: 800
respite families X $157 average NH Medicaid cost per day X 30 days delay in NH
placement X 60% of NH residents on Medicaid = $2 million savings in Medicaid NH
costs.
I’m going to D.C. at the end of
March to visit Senator McCaskill, Senator Blunt and Congresswoman Hartzler.
Although, I take the fight to Capitol Hill, each of us has the power to make a
difference without leaving the comfort of home. Call, write, or email your
legislators, especially when legislation is pending or advocates are visiting.
Become a voice. Answer the calls to
action. By keeping up-to-date on Alzheimer’s legislation, you can learn how to be
an effective advocate.
It may seem that the answer to a
cure is blowing in the wind, but if we chase it hard enough, we will eventually
find it.
Copyright © February 2017 by L.S.
Fisher
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