Country music legend Campbell helps remove Alzheimer’s stigma
Glen Campbell is a Grammy-winning country music icon, but his wife Kim Campbell says one of the most important things the legend has done in his life is to “help remove the stigma of Alzheimer’s disease.” Glen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, went public and embarked on a farewell tour which ended in 2012.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php
Please Sign the Petition to Protect Funding for Alzheimer’s Care & Research in Illinois
Gov. Rauner has proposed a major cut, and in some cases total elimination of funding for programs that benefit individuals with Alzheimer’s, their families, and caregivers. We need to let Governor Rauner and our elected officials in Springfield know that this funding is important to us. After you sign the petition, please send it to friends and family to ask for their support as well. You can sign the petition by clicking below.
Governor Bruce Rauner has proposed a budget for Fiscal Year 2016 that would decimate, and in some cases completely eliminate funding for services that individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s depend on. While we need a responsible budget that is fair to all residents of Illinois, we cannot balance it on the backs of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
Sign this petition asking Governor Rauner to keep funding intact for vital Alzheimer’s care and support programs.
There are 210,000 people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in Illinois. Many of them depend on these services, daily. The nearly 600,000 caregivers count on access to these services for their patients and loved ones. The countless families that will be affected by these cuts will have no where to turn.
Gov. Rauner, the short term and long term implications are destructive to household budgets and the Illinois healthcare system – please restore funding for these programs.
Community Care Program (CCP)
-Elimination of $140 million in funding. Coupled with other changes, nearly 40% of those enrolled in CCP would be affected.
-Raising the DON (determination of need) score from 29 to 37, which would affect thousands of Illinoisans and require them to become sicker before qualifying for medical care.
-Implementing an income cap of $17,500, which equates to less than $1,500 a month. This may kick 21,000 individuals out of the program and result in them not receiving the care they need.
Increased Costs to Medicaid
-By changing the DON score of CCP, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may not qualify for care and will then be forced to enter a nursing home which costs 3 times as much.
-According to the Illinois Comptroller, in fiscal year 2015 the average monthly cost for the Community Care program was $860 but that same care was priced at $2,874 in a nursing home.
Complete and Total Elimination of Funding for Alzheimer’s Disease Assistance Centers
-The Southern Illinois University’s School of Medicine’s Center for Alzheimer’s Disease would see a complete elimination of funding, totaling $1.5 million resulting in 93 Illinois counties losing access to vital care networks of doctors, social workers, nurses, and support services.
-The Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Northwestern School of Medicine would see a slash of $330,000 in funding.
-Rush’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center’s funding of $1.5 million is also completely removed from Governor Rauner’s budget proposal.
-The bottom line: less care and support programs will exist in the short term, however the long term implications are even more alarming. The three locations conduct vital research and clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease – currently the costliest disease in America and the 6th leading cause of death in Illinois.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php
Bridge club members join the cause on The Longest Day
Join or start a team on The Longest Day® and honor those facing Alzheimer’s disease with a day of activity. This unique, worldwide event allows you to do something you love to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. Teams like the American Contract Bridge League — our inaugural global partner and top fundraiser for two years running — are getting creative by challenging motorcycle clubs in their community to ride across bridges from sunrise to sunset.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php
New program designed to provide joyful experiences
A new program series being offered in the Greater Illinois Chapter called “Fighting Dementia through Joyful Living” is designed to help those in the early stages of living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias live a full, joyful life.
“These events will be enjoyable for both persons with dementia and their supporters,” states Richard Apple, Care Navigation Manager of the Greater Illinois Chapter.
A new program series being offered in the Greater Illinois Chapter called “Fighting Dementia through Joyful Living” is designed to help those in the early stages of living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias live a full, joyful life.
“These events will be enjoyable for both persons with dementia and their supporters,” states Richard Apple, Care Navigation Manager of the Greater Illinois Chapter. “Participants will develop skills that work together to potentially delay the onset or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.” According to the Alzheimer’s Association, living a healthy life with Alzheimer’s disease involves examining the influences that impact your experience living with dementia. The health benefits associated with maintaining your physical, emotional, social and spiritual health may help improve your daily life.
This series of classes is located in Rockford, Illinois.
Mindfulness Walk at Anderson Japanese Gardens
Friday, May 29, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
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or
Friday June 5, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
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Create Art Journals at 317 Studio and Gallery
Wednesday, July 1, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
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Physical Health at Fitness Works
Wednesday, July 22, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
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Laughing Yoga at Fitness Works
Wednesday, August 19, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Register online >>
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Association helps Alzheimer’s disease gain traction with nation’s lawmakers
The Alzheimer’s Association is leading the charge in Congress to boost funding for Alzheimer’s research, which is necessary to prevent the nation’s health care system from being crushed by costs related to the disease. Robert Egge, the Association’s chief public policy officer, says, “There’s an increasing recognition that this is something we have to urgently deal with.
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php