alzheimer's disease, dementia care, caregiver support, alzheimer's help, home health
Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/308514
by MARK CORNETT, COO The needs of patients and caregivers living with neurocognitive disorders in Florida were represented in Tallahassee by 45 passionate Alzheimer's Community Care advocates February 11 – 13, 2014. The team was made up mostly of family caregivers, many of whom have been providing care in their homes for over 10 years, members of Alzheimer's Community Care's Board of Directors and Advisory Councils, volunteers, and staff. This was the fourth advocacy trip sponsored by the organization in the past few years. The primary purpose is to provide an opportunity for caregivers to meet with Florida's legislators face-to-face and tell their stories. This educates the legislative body on the importance of the specialized approach to care, safety, security, and support that takes place at Alzheimer's Community Care every day. What results is a beautiful interaction between almost 200 elected officials, legislative staff, and their constituents as stories are shared back and forth. We find that the legislators we have gone to educate in Tallahassee often have their own Alzheimer's stories to tell and find support and guidance from the very constituents that have come to visit them! Education is the key word for this trip. The advocates boarded a motor coach on the morning of February 11 as it made stops in West Palm Beach, Stuart, and Ft. Pierce. Each advocate told their personal story on the way to Tallahassee and received the beginnings of their "orientation". A more in-depth training was provided for advocates over dinner in Tallahassee that night. Advocates were assigned to eight groups of four to five people in each group, and February 12 was spent on visits educating the legislators, followed by a debriefing to collect any instructions that staff would need to follow-up on after the trip. The 13th was devoted to travel back to South Florida, and the motor coach was abuzz with a sense of pride and success. Many advocates commented on how they were well received and were shown great respect on this trip. Advocates heading home after a successful trip to Tallahassee 45 Alzheimer's Advocates Travel to Tallahassee to Meet with Legislators 4 ALZHEIMER'S COMMUNITY CARE / SPRING 2014 Community News