Join me for Georgia Alzheimer's Awareness Day

On Monday, February 13th -- you'll find me at the Georgia State Capitol to help promote Alzheimer's Awareness to our legislators. Will you join me? Many people are intimidated to go to the "gold dome" as we often call our capitol. They are intimidated by not knowing the process of talking to our legislators and afraid of saying the wrong thing. The great day about the Awareness Day at the Capitol is that if you feel uncomfortable talking, you don't have to -- you just need to be there. There will be others willing to talk on your behalf, but you showing up and adding to our numbers makes a difference. When legislators see the "sea of purple" (since you'll be given purple shirts to wear" it makes a big impact on them. We want to make legislators aware that Alzheimer's isn't going to go away any time soon, and we need their help.

The Georgia Alzheimer's office is currently working on several initiatives that we want our legistlators to know about. Items that will affect not only those living with the disease but certainly the hundreds of caregivers in Georgia. One of those things is a state Alzheimer's Plan. Currently, 19 states have state Alzheimer's plans. These plans help to guide how Alzheimer's is handled on a state basis and will work in conjunction with the National Alzheimer's Project Act that is currently being formed on a national level. The state plan can deal with all types of issues facing those dealing with Alzheimer's to help with respite care, programs and services and laws that protect our loved ones with Alzheimer's.

Many initiatives need funding -- and although we know funding is in short supply these days, if we don't stay out in front of our legislators, then we will be forgotten.

If you've never done anything like this before, please consider joining us. As a favor to me, and the other 200,000 people living with Alzheimer's in the state of Georgia. Numbers count. And we need you to help make a difference. Just your presence is something. Don't be intimidated -- you won't have to do anything you aren't comfortable with. But, if you are reading this blog, you probably have someone in your life you know with Alzheimer's and you can help us just by showing up on Feburary 13th.

The day will start with lunch, then a walk to the capitol to meet with legislators and possibly the governor and end with dinner and a candlelight tribute on the steps of the capitol. You can come for all or part of it. I can't stress enough what an impact seeing hundreds of people wearing purple shirts in the capitol makes.

You must register -- but it is simple and can be done online. There is also training if you so desire to learn about the iniatives that are going to be discussed. You can do that in person or online if you so choose. We just need to know if you are coming or not so we can plan for food and shirts for everyone. You can read more about here: http://act.alz.org/site/PageNavigator/georgiaadvocacy.html1

Please make Alzheimer's a priority -- we need everyone's help!