Brewer - A local man who sees the impact of Alzheimer's and other types of dementia first-hand is headed to Washington, D.C. to help push for more funding to fight the disease.
Benjamin Smith is the executive director of Woodlands Senior Living in Brewer.
He's one of three Mainers who's taking part in the Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum.
The group is urging Congress to accept the National Alzheimer's Plan, which wants to increase funding for research, education and caregiving.
"Every other disease that causes death has declined over the years. Alzheimer's disease has only increased and will only continue to increase. Today 5 million Americans live with the disease. It's estimated by 2050, 13 million will have the disease. So it's an illness that's not going to go away unless we take action as a nation."
In Maine, about 37,000 people live with Alzheimer's.
Smith and his colleagues will join dozen of other advocates from across the country, starting Monday.
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHn8fPUOrG8AXcJ-fErq3XImVaypw&url=http://www.wabi.tv/news/39423/local-man-headed-to-d-c-to-push-for-alzheimers-funding
0 comments:
Post a Comment