Alzheimers Association
The Alzheimer's Association was originally created as the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association in April of 1980. The goal of this association is to educate people about Alzheimer's disease and eradicate it through funding research, Alzheimer's care facilities
Alzheimer's disease, or Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type, is a terminal form of brain degeneration. Alzheimer's disease primarily affects persons of advanced age, 60 or older, however, there is an early onset form of this disease. Approximately 27 million people were diagnosed with Alzheimer's globally in 2006. Discovered in the early 20th century, this disease is caused by a lack of proteins created in the brain tissue for the brain to function optimally.
The Alzheimer's Association has raised funds numbering in the millions towards Alzheimer's research and advocacy efforts. In the year of its inception, the Alzheimer's Association's initial investment to eradicating Alzheimer's was $13 million. In succeeding years, through donations and federal grants, funds in increasing amounts have been directed to spreading Alzheimer's information and developing preventative procedures to fight the disease. The association offers diverse array of services to educate and advocate for Alzheimer's awareness through:
A 24 hour helpline;
Nationwide chapters that distribute Alzheimer's information and create advocacy events;
Online message boards for people to openly discuss their feelings, experiences, opinions and questions regarding Alzheimer's disease;
A nationwide medical service to respond to Alzheimer's related emergencies, i.e. a person with Alzheimer's wandering away from home;
An open national library to specifically dedicated for educating people through Alzheimer's information and research;
Services to recommend programs and housing for those with Alzheimer's;
Publications that educate people about new advances in the fight against Alzheimer's disease;
and, National events and conferences to raise monetary donations for the research surrounding Alzheimer's disease and spread Alzheimer's information.
The three main events that the Alzheimer's Association hosts on an expansive basis are the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD), the Alzheimer's Association Dementia Care Conference, and the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk. The ICAD hosts symposiums, workshops, and panel discussions that are attended by medical authorities, including researchers and physicians, in the field of dementia and Alzheimer's. The Dementia Care Conference is hosted to provide continuing education opportunities for those that care for Alzheimer's sufferers. The Memory Walk is a nationwide fundraiser that is hosted in all 50 of the United States. Volunteers are asked to donate money and support those afflicted with Alzheimer's.
The Alzheimer's Association has also created an initiative calling people to be "champions" for the sufferers of Alzheimer's through the tiers of Voice, Open, Move, and Act.
Voice: Champions are called to share their experiences with and opinions about Alzheimer's.
Open: Champions are called to educate themselves and others by "opening their eyes" and reading Alzheimer's information.
Move: Champions are called to volunteer time towards Alzheimer's advocacy.
Act: Champions are called to promote the fight against Alzheimer's by writing letters to their local Congressional representatives.
