Dear WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s Founders and Partners,
We are pleased to announce that on Wednesday, July 13, in partnership with UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s submitted testimony to the Subcommittee on Health of the Senate Finance Committee, urging members to support Alzheimer’s legislation that aids Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers.
We see our submission as a reinforcement of our goals to not only help those suffering from the disease, but to put a stop to Alzheimer’s all together.
Please share this message to spread the word about the news with your networks via Twitter:
.@WomenAgstAlz has submitted testimony in favor of all legislation aimed to help those with #Alzheimers: http://bit.ly/2a1cZQv #WeWontWait
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tim Tassa
Phone: 202-263-2580
Email: ttassa@usagainstalzheimers.org
WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s Submits Testimony To Senate Finance Committee, Subcommittee On Health, Urging Members To Support Current And Future Legislation That Aids Alzheimer’s Patients And Caregivers
WASHINGTON, DC, July 13, 2016—Following a Senate Finance Committee, Subcommittee on Health, briefing, “Alzheimer’s Disease: The Struggle for Families, a Looming Crisis for Medicare,” WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s (WA2), an UsAgainst’Azheimer’s network, submitted a statement for the record, outlining the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on women, emphasizing the need for sex and gender differentiated research, as well as asking committee members to co-sponsor legislation that supports caregivers – the majority of whom are women.
In particular, the statement, authored by WA2 President Jill Lesser, called for members to co-sponsor the Alzheimer’s Beneficiary and Caregiver Support Act (S. 3137), which would provide Alzheimer’s disease caregiver support services to informal or non-paid caregivers to both keep patients in the home setting for longer periods of time and improve the quality of life of caregivers, ultimately resulting in lower Medicare and Medicaid program costs. The legislation was introduced last week by Senators Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
Statistics underscore the impact of the disease on women. Women are twice as likely to suffer from dementia, and about 70% of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women, which impacts their participation in the job market. Moreover, half of women caregivers alter or have to stop working due to the demands of caregiving for their loved one. In addition, 75% worry about caregiving’s toll on their own health.
“We look forward to working with all of the members of the Committee to alleviate the burdens of Alzheimer’s disease on a growing number of American families,” Lesser said. “Waiting to enact important Alzheimer’s legislation is not an option.”
###
UsAgainstAlzheimer’s (UsA2) is an innovative non-profit organization demanding – and delivering – a solution to Alzheimer’s. Driven by the suffering of millions of families, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s presses for greater urgency from government, industry and the scientific community in the quest for an Alzheimer’s cure – accomplishing this through effective leadership, collaborative advocacy, and strategic investments.
As a member of the UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Network, WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s unites women across the globe to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. Our growing network of women is impatient with the slow progress being made in the Alzheimer’s fight and, driven by our passion, is committed to ending current “business-as usual” approaches to funding, research and advocacy to bring Alzheimer’s out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Because women won’t wait.
Copyright © 2016 WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s, All rights reserved.
WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s We Won’t Wait Campaign
Our mailing address is:
WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s
1150 18th St, NW
Washington, DC 20036
