Junior Board Spotlight – Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter Junior Board was founded in 2011 to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and related dementias to individuals in their 20s and 30s, and to take action through fundraising events, support programs, education and advocacy initiatives. In this article we feature one of our Junior Board members, Elizabeth Entinghe.

Junior Board Spotlight

The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter Junior Board was founded in 2011 to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and related dementias to individuals in their 20s and 30s, and to take action through fundraising events, support programs, education and advocacy initiatives.
Elizabeth Entinghe, Vice President of Development

What led to your involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association?

Six years ago, my father passed away at the age of 57 from a rare from of dementia after battling with the disease for over 8 years. I volunteered at a local Walk to End Alzheimer’s, but wanted to do more with the Association, which is when I found the Chapter’s Junior Board. Nearly three years ago, I joined the Junior Board, and have been actively involved since.
What are some of your responsibilities as Vice President of Development?

In my role, I manage our Fundraising and Events and Marketing teams, and together we work to raise awareness for the Junior Board and the Greater Illinois Chapter through our various social media and outreach efforts as well as our fundraising programs, like our upcoming winter event – Paint the Night Purple.
Why is being a member of the Junior Board important to you?

Being a part of the Junior Board is important to me because it is my way of honoring my father with his battle with the disease and my mother for her tremendous support of my father as his caregiver. I wish I could say they were the only ones who have gone through this, but so many people do so I joined the Junior Board to honor them, support those with the disease today and those who may have it tomorrow, and hope for a world where Alzheimer’s no longer exists.
Why should others become involved with the Junior Board and the Alzheimer’s Association?

I encourage others to become involved with the Junior Board and the Alzheimer’s Association because the work the Association does is so important for our communities. Supporting the efforts of those with the disease and, equally as important, their caregivers and loved ones is critical, and that is one of the key facets of the Association’s mission. Plus, living in a world without Alzheimer’s would be pretty great – don’t you think?
Why do you raise awareness and encourage others to become educated about Alzheimer’s disease?
Watching or caring for a loved one with the disease is one of the most difficult experiences one can go through. Feeling so helpless – for both the person fighting the disease and their loved ones – is such a terrible feeling, especially as these are emotions neither party wants to show the other. We should all raise awareness and become educated about Alzheimer’s disease to support all efforts to end those experiences and, ultimately, end Alzheimer’s. I want to raise awareness for the fight to end Alzheimer’s to hopefully one day live in a world where no one has to fight the disease and to prevent that feeling of helplessness for anyone who may be affected by the disease. Each of our lives are too important to be forced to forget them.

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We have the momentum, but we need your help – Alzheimer’s movement

Thanks to the Alzheimer’s Association and its dedicated advocates nationwide, congressional leaders recently announced the largest-ever increase for Alzheimer’s research funding — $350 million. This is an unprecedented victory and a historic moment for the Alzheimer’s movement. Be part of the next step, and help us advance the cause at the 2016 Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum.

Where you need to be in 2016.

The Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum is the nation’s premier Alzheimer’s advocacy event. It’s where you need to be to continue playing a crucial role in the fight against the disease.

Registration is now open for the 2016 Advocacy Forum.

Greetings, Fellow Advocates:

You represent the very best of who we are through your collective voice, passion and commitment to speak out on behalf of friends, family and neighbors affected by the devastation of Alzheimer’s disease. As chair of the 28th Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum, I invite you to join us in Washington, D.C., this year.

This will be my 15th Forum. Like many of you, I was spurred by the loss of dear family members. In July 2000, I began volunteering at my local chapter after my mom’s passing from Alzheimer’s a few months earlier. My dad would also succumb 10 years later. Witnessing not only their journeys but those of too many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and spouses of close friends and other family compelled me to return each year, through some of the most tumultuous times our nation has faced in recent memory.

Many of you have also come back and brought others, who in turn went home to tell their stories and recruit advocates to make the trip the following year. Because of that — because of you — we’ve witnessed some remarkable milestones together, from passage of the National Family Caregiver Support Program and expedited access to Social Security Disability Insurance for younger-onset individuals to the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) and launch of the inaugural national Alzheimer’s plan in 2012. During that same challenging period, your advocacy achieved hard-fought, additional National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding in multiple years, culminating with the inclusion of the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act in 2014’s Omnibus Appropriations Bill and the FY2016 budget’s unprecedented $350 million increase for Alzheimer’s research, bringing the total to $936 million. This is double the amount from when we all worked with Congress to unanimously pass NAPA five years ago.

In his wonderful book “The Great Work of Your Life,” author Stephen Cope speaks to several universal teachings found in some of our most ancient texts. One that vividly came to mind while writing this letter was: “Listen for the call of the times.”

This is what you’ll be doing by attending the Advocacy Forum: answering one of the great calls of our time — that of a world without Alzheimer’s disease.

Very Best Success!

Bob Marino
Chair, 2016 Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum

Highlights from the 2015 Advocacy Forum

Advocates see Hill Day as an opportunity for meaningful action
Nearly 1,000 Alzheimer’s advocates clad in purple sashes headed to Capitol Hill on March 25 for Hill Day — the culmination of the 27th Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C.
Read more >>

Advocacy successes celebrated at National Alzheimer’s Dinner
At the National Alzheimer’s Dinner on March 24, part of the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum, leaders working to end Alzheimer’s were honored for their efforts and attendees celebrated advances made in the fight against the disease. A highlight of the festivities was emcee Wolf Blitzer, CNN’s lead political anchor and host of “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”
Read more >>

Keynote speaker details importance of leadership in Alzheimer’s fight
Nearly 1,000 Alzheimer’s advocates — a record number — gathered at the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum the morning of March 24 for the event’s keynote address and general session.
Read more >>

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Clinical trial volunteers are crucial to advancing Alzheimer’s research

Through clinical trials, researchers test new ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Recruiting and retaining study participants is vital to developing the next generation of Alzheimer’s treatments. Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch® is a free, easy-to-use clinical studies matching service that connects individuals with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, healthy volunteers and physicians with current studies.

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Clinical trial volunteers are crucial to advancing Alzheimer’s research

Through clinical trials, researchers test new ways to detect, treat and prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Recruiting and retaining study participants is vital to developing the next generation of Alzheimer’s treatments. Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch® is a free, easy-to-use clinical studies matching service that connects individuals with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, healthy volunteers and physicians with current studies.

About Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch^®

Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch is a free, easy-to-use clinical studies matching service that connects individuals with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, healthy volunteers and physicians with current studies. Our continuously updated database of Alzheimer’s clinical trials includes more than 225 promising clinical studies being conducted at nearly 700 trials sites across the country.

We need your help to advance research

People with Alzheimer’s, caregivers and healthy volunteers are needed today to participate in Alzheimer’s and dementia research.

When you join a clinical trial, you have an opportunity to participate in vital research that could change the course of Alzheimer’s disease and improve the lives of all those it affects.

Find potential studies in four easy steps

Step 1

Access TrialMatch online. For additional assistance, email trialmatch@alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

Step 2

Complete a brief questionnaire to create a profile.

Step 3

The Alzheimer’s Association will compare your unique profile to its comprehensive, continually updated clinical study database.

Step 4

You will receive information about studies for which you might be a good fit based on your preferences, location and personal characteristics.

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Help make 2016 our most successful year yet – Alzheimer’s

We urgently need your help to reach our goal to raise $500,000 by the end of January for our 2016 Annual Fund. We’re halfway through the month, and we can’t do this without you.
We’re proud of the accomplishments we achieved over the past year with your help, but until we put a stop to this devestating disease, there is so much more to do. Your support offers hope to the millions of people living with Alzheimer’s.

Give to the 2016 Annual Fund to fight Alzheimer’s.
Let’s put an end to this devastating epidemic.

This needs to be the year we make huge leaps in our search for methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer’s. That’s why we must start the year with a strong foundation. Your gift to the 2016 Annual Fund will make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

We urgently need your help to reach our goal to raise $500,000 by the end of January for our 2016 Annual Fund. We’re halfway through the month, and we can’t do this without you.
We’re proud of the accomplishments we achieved over the past year with your help, but until we put a stop to this devestating disease, there is so much more to do. Your support offers hope to the millions of people living with Alzheimer’s.

Give to the 2016 Annual Fund to fight Alzheimer’s.
Let’s put an end to this devastating epidemic.

This needs to be the year we make huge leaps in our search for methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer’s. That’s why we must start the year with a strong foundation. Your gift to the 2016 Annual Fund will make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php

http://optimumseniorcare.com/blog/

https://www.facebook.com/OptimumseniorcareIL