Advocacy Forum Spotlight: Ashley Bock

Advocacy Forum Spotlight: Ashley Bock

“I lost my grandfather to Alzheimer’s disease several years ago. I was extremely close to him, he was pretty much my hero. He has helped mold me into the person I am today, so watching him battle this disease really made me want to take action. I wasn’t going to sit back and watch it happen to other people.”

Ashley Bock, 30, is from Antioch, Illinois and works in Sales Operations for CVS Health. This year will be her second year participating in the Advocacy Forum in Washington D.C. and her first time leading a Forum team!  Ashley also participates in several other Association volunteer opportunities, such as the Illinois Action Summit, the ACCR (Alzheimer’s Association Community Representative) program, and the Lake County Walk to End Alzheimer’s Committee where she served as Chair for five years. She also enjoys reading, ice fishing, boating and traveling with her husband, Matt.

“My husband and I are very social people who are always trying something new. We love to be busy- whether that’s having dinner with friends or traveling. We take several vacations – even if they are just long weekends. It’s very important to me take time and make memories with my friends and family.”

What is your personal experience with Alzheimer’s disease?
“I lost my grandfather to Alzheimer’s disease several years ago. I was extremely close to him – he was pretty much my hero. He has helped mold me into the person I am today, so watching him battle this disease really made me want to take action. I wasn’t going to sit back and watch it happen to other people.”

What impact has Alzheimer’s had on your family?
“It definitely affected my mom and aunt who lost their father to this disease, along with my siblings and my cousins who lost their grandfather. This disease really shook our world because we had to step up and be caretakers for him and try and keep him out of a facility as long as possible. It was upsetting for me to watch this man who had a very proud work ethic be slowly taken away and stripped of everything by the disease. On a more positive note, we have all come together as a family since losing him. We all do different volunteer opportunities together and even have a Walk to End Alzheimer’s team together. So, as hard as it was when he was alive and had the disease, he was able to bring us together. “

What’s been the most positive aspect of it?
“Seeing us turn Capitol Hill purple is always very motivating for me. When I see everyone on Capitol Hill wearing the Alzheimer’s Association sash, it reminds me that I am not alone and that this disease did not just affect my family. Together, we are trying to make the future a better place by advocating for this disease. Also, getting the chance to have that face-to-face conversation with your legislator is so important, because you know they’ve taken time out of their day and they are invested in hearing what you have to say. It really feels like we are making a difference.”

What is like to be an Alzheimer’s Advocate?
“At times it can be challenging, but it is very meaningful work. Yes, we’re advocating for those currently living with the disease, but we are also advocating for the future. We are advocating for ourselves, our friends, our family… I advocate in memory of my grandfather, and even though my work now isn’t going to help him, I know that my work will make a difference for future generations. So for me, it’s very meaningful to know that we are advocating and making an impact on an issue that affects so many people.”

What is your favorite aspect of attending the Forum?
“Making connections with people from across the country! We all have at least one thing in common that bonds us together, and that bond is very strong. You might see someone from another state that you only see once a year, but you always have that common goal. We all want to end Alzheimer’s, and we are all there to support each other. The entire experience is a constant reminder that you are not alone in this fight, and that we can accomplish amazing things when we work together.”

What would you say to someone who was considering attending the Forum but maybe wasn’t sure?
“I would tell them that I was that person three years ago, and I didn’t attend. The following year I did attend, and I will never miss a year going forward. It is one of the best experiences you could have and one of the things I look forward to every year. Not only do you learn so much, but you make those close connections to people. It is just an amazing experience. I would tell that person that it is 100% worth it.”

Let’s work to make Illinois a dementia-capable state!
Sign up for the 2017 Illinois Action Summit, join a WALK, or learn more about becoming an AACR.

Shriver honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at National Alzheimer’s Dinner

Shriver honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at National Alzheimer’s Dinner

Renowned journalist Maria Shriver received the Alzheimer’s Association Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Alzheimer’s Dinner, part of the 2017 Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has enthusiastically dedicated themself to raising awareness of the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease and to increasing support for the millions of families affected.

Maria Shriver honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
at National Alzheimer’s Dinner

On March 28, renowned journalist Maria Shriver received the Alzheimer’s Association Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Alzheimer’s Dinner, part of the 2017 Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who has enthusiastically dedicated themself to raising awareness of the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease and to increasing support for the millions of families affected.

Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association president and CEO, introduced Shriver by calling her “an architect of change” who had dedicated herself to confronting the many challenges facing the world, especially those that impact women.

“In response to the devastating consequences that Alzheimer’s has on women as people living with the disease and caregivers, Maria created the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement to inform women of their elevated risk and to ignite increased support for research,” Johns said. “By sharing her own story, and through her tireless, relentless efforts, Maria has illuminated the disease in the public eye, helping to create a dialogue that is so important around a disease and a diagnosis that was for too long hidden in the shadows.”

Shriver gracefully accepted the recognition but vowed that the award doesn’t mean she’s done fighting this disease.

“When you’re given a lifetime achievement award, it’s usually when you’re about to retire and hang up your heels and step out of the arena,” Shriver said. “But for me, nothing could be further from the truth. Fourteen years after coming face to face with Alzheimer’s in my own family, I feel like I’m just getting started. I’m energized, I’m committed, and I’m ready to do whatever it takes to wipe out this mind-blowing disease.”

Shriver added that she’s focusing her mind, energy and will on what’s possible in the fight against Alzheimer’s rather than the limitations.

“I truly believe with all my heart that the women and men in this room — and those we represent — are within striking distance of our foe,” she said. “If enough people put their minds and their efforts and their energy to an issue, they change the trajectory of that issue. AIDS activists did it, cancer activists did it — and we, the Alzheimer’s agitators, instigators and warriors in this room can do it as well.”

Actor and dedicated Alzheimer’s Celebrity Champion Peter Gallagher emceed the event. Gallagher told the crowd that he was in Washington — and participating in the fight to end Alzheimer’s — because of his mother, who lived with the disease for nearly the last 20 years of her life.

“Alzheimer’s is excellent at making everyone involved feel powerless and alone,” Gallagher said. “You can’t prevent it, you can’t cure it — yet — more and more people are getting it, very few can afford it, and nobody’s prepared to cope with it. If the one who gets it was the family’s navigator in life, like my mother, the fabric of the family can be torn irreparably by the long-term challenges of finding a way through. As advocates, you give us voice and strength and hope as you inspire our leaders to make Alzheimer’s research and NIH funding a top priority so a cure can be found.”

Mark Donham of Lake Oswego, Oregon, told the crowd why he’s an advocate. Donham’s wife Chris was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her 40s, and he quit his job to care for her full-time until she died in her early 50s.

“Alzheimer’s radically changed our life’s path, including our plans and dreams, but it didn’t change our love for one another,” Donham said. “We made the most of each moment that we shared, for which my life has been made richer.”

With five grand nieces and nephews all under age 10, Donham said he’s part of the cause so that one day no one else in the family will have to experience the disease.

“As advocates, it’s not a one-time visit to a public official or writing an op-ed piece. It’s a relentless commitment to keep fighting for the research funding, better care and improved support,” he said. “It’s our continued commitment and actions that are making a difference.”

Bob Thomas, an Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) board member, presented the AIM Humanitarian Award to Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. The award recognizes public officials who have made a significant policy contribution to advancements in research, and care and support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Thomas said that Cole was instrumental in the historic $350 million increase in Alzheimer’s research funding at NIH for fiscal year 2016 and the additional bump in fiscal year 2017, which awaits final action by Congress.

“Tom Cole provides a vision for Alzheimer’s research that inspires his colleagues,” Thomas said. “He has an impressive willingness to translate his commitment into action. He has a heartfelt empathy for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Because of champions like Tom Cole, we have hope for a world without Alzheimer’s, and soon. Because of champions like Tom Cole, hope springs eternal.”

Cole’s father died from Alzheimer’s, and he and his brother watched the physical and mental toll it took on their mother as the primary caregiver. Cole vividly recalls the day his father went to live in a care facility to help ease the burden his mother faced. “My father was a really tough guy,” he said. “Hearing him cry as we left was the hardest single thing I went through in my life.”

Cole added: “Thank you from my family and countless others, and for people in the future who will never go through Alzheimer’s. People will tell you it can’t happen, and that’s a fallacy. We can do this if we make the investment.”

Alzheimer’s Association Zenith Society member and advocate Jane Cahn of Hudson Valley, New York, presented the evening’s second Humanitarian Award to Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee.

Cahn’s late husband, Andy, was a board member and president of the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter, a caregiver support group leader, a dedicated fundraiser and donor, and an Alzheimer’s Association Ambassador to Lowey.

“Andy should be here presenting this award tonight instead of me, but I know he would be as happy as I am to acknowledge the real progress we’re making in this fight, thanks in large part to champions like Congresswoman Lowey,” Cahn said. “Her steadfast commitment to the cause has helped us achieve momentum at the federal level, and I know we are all extremely grateful for her support.”

Lowey said that while it’s an honor to be an elected official, constituents play the larger role in creating change. “I always say that when people come in to see me that I’m privileged to serve in Congress, but never forget that you are the power. You are the ones that make it happen,” Lowey said. “When you’re walking the halls of Congress knocking on doors, you make the difference.

“Every one of us in this room has been touched by Alzheimer’s disease,” she continued. “There’s no doubt in my mind that if we support the investment in biomedical research, we will make significant advancements. That’s why the work you’re doing is so very crucial.”

Myriam Marquez of Seattle was honored with the Alzheimer’s Association Advocate of the Year Award. Prior to her diagnosis in 2009, Marquez was an attorney in a family law, immigration and bankruptcy private practice and a public defender. Among other accomplishments, Marquez is a past member or the Alzheimer’s Association Early-Stage Advisory Group; a participant in the DIAN-TU clinical trial, a study to understand a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease that is caused by a gene mutation; and an ambassador to Sen. Patty Murray (R-Wash.).

After learning she was living with Alzheimer’s, Marquez said she felt emotions ranging from relief to despair — and then the warrior in her took over.

“What I love the most in this journey are the wonderful people who have Alzheimer’s and other dementias, their caregivers and the many others who are doing what they can to help find a cure, particularly the staff and volunteers of the Alzheimer’s Association,” Marquez said. “I’m a witness to the growing army of warriors fighting for a cure.”

The inaugural Alzheimer’s Association Young Advocate of the Year Award was presented to journalist and TV personality Liz Hernandez of “Access Hollywood.” The award honors a member of the next generation of Alzheimer’s advocates who is dedicated to raising awareness of the disease and the cause among a younger audience.

Hernandez’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three years ago at the age of 67, and Hernandez served as primary caregiver until her mother entered a care facility. She is extremely passionate about raising awareness of the warning signs of the disease in order to help other families recognize the symptoms and access care.

“I’m thankful to my family, my friends, people who have become my friends and were brought into my life because of this journey, like Maria Shriver, who took me under her wing, and the incredibly gracious staff at the Alzheimer’s Association,” Hernandez said. “It’s because of their efforts that I’ve been able to meet other people like my mom and like myself facing the same hurt and the same hurdles but, luckily, the same passion to give the ones we love a voice and to spread awareness.

“Although I’m appreciative and humbled by this honor, I’ve only done what any daughter would do for her mother. I accept this on behalf of my mom, Armida. She’s the hero in this story. I’ve fought for her the hardest, and she has made me the strongest. She’s given me the gift any mother wants for her daughter, and that is compassion and strength.”

Johns returned to thank everyone for their efforts on behalf of the cause — and to encourage advocates to continue the fight. “You make all of our successes happen,” he said. “You make a different in people’s lives each and every day. We should be very proud of what have accomplished together, but we should not be satisfied … Remember that the leverage you have as an advocate means that you can change the course of this disease for millions and millions of people.”

Gallagher closed the dinner by offering encouragement to advocates not only for their Hill Day visits on Wednesday but also for the fight at large.

“Go to Capitol Hill with the knowledge and power that an entire community of Alzheimer’s advocates and families is standing with you. Let’s make this happen for all those who inspire us to relentlessly pursue our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and for our children,” he said. “My mother used to say, ‘You show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are.’ If she were here tonight, she’d be very reassured.”

Receive a special gift when you help fight Alzheimer’s today.

Receive a special gift when you help fight Alzheimer’s today.

The coming spring offers the promise of brighter days ahead, just as your support offers hope for those living with Alzheimer’s disease, their family members and caregivers.
You can honor the spirit of this season of renewal with a donation of $25 or more to help end Alzheimer’s. To thank you for your critical part in the fight against this devastating disease, we’re pleased to send you our purple journal as a token of our appreciation.

Your generosity will help people affected by Alzheimer’s to access care and support programs that provide the daily and long-term help they need. Your support also helps advance innovative research that can bring us closer to methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.
Someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s every 66 seconds. This rate will continue to grow unless we make great progress to stop the disease.
Please join us during this season of hope, and give generously today. Together, we can move closer to our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s disease.

Micro-Credential Program

Micro-Credential Program

Perfect for administrative staff or anyone looking to further their own professional development, the Working with Older Adults Micro-Credential Program offers six certificate courses with real-life examples, hands-on tips and numerous resources to help you improve your daily interactions with older adults.

Micro-Credential Program

The Working with Older Adults Micro-Credential Program is a separate learning option from the Working with Older Adults course that gives you the benefit of being able to choose the topic areas from the course that will best enhance and supplement your existing expertise and knowledge.

Enroll in one or more of the six certificate courses in the Working with Older Adults Micro-Credential Program based on your unique interests and needs, and receive a Certificate of Achievement for acquiring new, practical knowledge in each certificate course.

The six certificate courses are the same content as the Working with Older Adults course. Real-life examples, hands-on tips and numerous resources help you apply the knowledge and insight from each certificate course in your daily interactions with older adults to take relationships and professional practices to new levels of quality and effectiveness. Click here to see what’s included.

The Working with Older Adults Micro-Credential Program is also separate from the Certified Senior Advisors (CSA)® Certification Program, which is dual-accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

If you are enrolled in one or more of the certificate courses in the micro-credential program, you may apply for the CSA certification exam at any time. However, the certificate courses cannot be credited in any manner to enrollment in the Working with Older Adults course.

Working with Older Adults Certificates
Micro-Credential Program – $195 each

 

The Journey of Aging
• Aging and Society
• The Experience of Aging
• Family and Social Support among Older Adults
• Best Practices in Communicating with Older Persons

Register for Micro-Credential in the Journey of Aging

Course Description: Discover the facts behind myths and stereotypes of aging, society’s view of aging, how to prevent ageism in your communications and what to do if you suspect elder abuse.
Read More


 

Health Transitions as People Grow Older
• Physical Changes of Aging
• Chronic Conditions among Older Adults
• Cognitive Changes of Aging
• Mental and Emotional Health in Later Years
• Healthy and Creative Living in Aging

Register for Micro-Credential in Health Transitions as People Grow Older

Course Description: Increasingly, older adults insist on experiencing aging as a positive stage in life. Proper nutrition, exercise, activities to express creativity and keep the mind healthy, and spiritual wellness are at the heart of successful aging. In this course, you learn about physical and mental health during aging, from normal physical and cognitive changes to chronic illness and dementia.
Read More


 

Quality-of-Life Choices for Older Adults
• Housing and Services for Aging Needs
• Caregiving in Families
• Advance Care Planning and Directives
• Hospice and Palliative Care
• End-of-Life Choices and Ethics

Register for Micro-Credential in Quality-of-Life Choices for Older Adults

Course Description: Many older adults live independently in their own homes, thanks in part to a large and dynamic network of housing options and long-term services and supports that include transportation, meals, home care and home health care.
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Financial & Estate Planning for Age 65 and Older
• Financial Planning for Retirement
• Main Sources of Retirement Income
• Basics of Investing for Age 65 and Older
• Federal Income Taxes and Older Adults
• Essentials of Estate Planning

Register for Micro-Credential in Financial & Estate Planning for Age 65 and Older

Course Description: Financial resources affect quality of life in later years, including choices for housing, health care, and long-term care. The knowledge from this course enables you to generally discuss key financial planning topics and to raise important questions that your clients should consider about their financial health.
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Federal & State Programs for Retirement & Health Care
• Medicare
• Medicaid and Older Adults
• Social Security and SSI
• Veterans Benefits

Register for Micro-Credential in Federal & State Programs for Retirement & Health Care

Course Description: Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and SSI, and veterans benefits are crucial financial resources that can provide older adults with more freedom of choice about their quality of life in later years.
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Essential Ethics for Working with Older Adults
• Practical, Everyday Ethics in Serving Older Adults
• Protecting Older Adults from Financial Exploitation
• Finding Qualified Professional Resources

Register for Micro-Credential in Essential Ethics for Working with Older Adults

Course Description: Gain new insight and practical ways to apply ethical principles in your everyday interactions with older clients. Topics include what to do if you suspect a client is showing possible signs of cognitive impairment, how to reduce the power differential between you and your clients, and how to proactively manage the effects of magical thinking by your clients on your professional relationship.
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What’s Included

The Working with Older Adults Micro-Credential Program comes with the following items included:

  • • The Working with Older Adults textbook section which corresponds with your course selection.
  • • 2 months of access to our online learning portal.
  • • Chapter Webinars.
  • • Comprehensive Online Quiz.
  • • Personalized Certificate Upon Completion.

Medicare Interactive Pro

Medicare Interactive Pro

Do you want to learn more about the A,B,C and D’s of Medicare? Medicare Interactive Pro is your comprehensive online Medicare curriculum that takes you on a guided learning experience. Choose from four core curriculums on Medicare topics.

Medicare Interactive Pro

The Medicare Rights Center is the national, nonprofit consumer service organization that powers MI Pro, the online curriculum designed to empower any professional to better help their clients, patients, employees, retirees, and others navigate a multitude of Medicare questions. Medicare Rights is the largest and most reliable independent source of Medicare information and assistance in the United States.

MI Pro is structured as a four-level Core Curriculum, with four to five interactive courses in each level.

Medicare Interactive Pro

Level 1: Medicare Basics

4 Month Subscription
$75 CSAs / $90 non-CSAs

This course includes:

Health Insurance Terms

Medicare Overview

Medicare Options

Enrollment Periods

 

Course Description:

This level serves as a gateway to understanding Medicare. Throughout introductory MI Pro Level 1 courses, you will learn common insurance and health care terms, gain an understanding of Medicare eligibility requirements, and receive a broad overview of the fundamental components of Medicare. Read More


Level 2: Medicare Options

5 Month Subscription
$95 CSAs / $110 non-CSAs

 

This course includes:

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)

Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Benefit)

Medigaps

Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Level 2

Course Description:

This level expands on baseline Medicare knowledge and elaborates on specific coverage rules for Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D. Throughout MI Pro Level 2 courses, you will secure a better understanding of Medicare enrollment periods and Medicare coverage rules, and learn important differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans. Read More


Level 3: Appeals and Penalties

4 Month Subscription
$75 CSAs / $90 non-CSAs

 

This course includes:

Original Medicare Appeals

Medicare Advantage Appeals

Medicare Part D Appeals

Medicare Late Enrollment Penalties and IRMAA

Medicare Level 3

Course Description:

This level offers students more familiar with Medicare the information and skills needed to assist Medicare beneficiaries in appealing denials of coverage and navigating issues related to Medicare premium penalties. Throughout advanced MI Pro Level 3 courses, you will learn more about the different types of Medicare appeals and the steps necessary to successfully navigate the appeals process. Read More


Level 4: Other Insurance and Assistance Programs

4 Month Subscription
$75 CSAs / $90 non-CSAs

 

This course includes:

Medicare and Employer Insurance

Medicare and Other Insurance

Medicare and Medicaid

Medigaps

Medicare Assistance Programs

Medicare Level 4

Course Description:

This level provides advanced students with in-depth information on how Medicare works with other types of insurances, and how to navigate enrollment into low-income assistance programs. Throughout advanced MI Pro Level 4 courses, you will learn about Medicare coordination of benefits and how to screen Medicare beneficiaries for low-income assistance programs. Read More