Still Alice: Breaking Through Old Stereotypes

28 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, ALZ Assn - National, Books, Celebrities, Early Onset, Face of Alzheimer's, Films, Helpful Resources, Inspiration

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alzheimers, alzheimers awareness, alzheimers stereotypes, dementia, julianne moore, still alice, younger onset alzheimers

This past week, I had the pleasure of attending a screening of Still Alice followed by a panel discussion organized by our local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. I’d seen the film the first day of the wide release, but watching it for the second time was a completely different experience.

The event was sold out, which in and of itself felt like a victory. Just being in that space with so many people united in the dream of a world without Alzheimer’s was overwhelming.

Julianne Moore’s portrayal of Alice is brilliant, no doubt largely due to the careful research she did for the part. Last month, Sandy Oltz, Moore’s personal consultant and inspiration for the film, spoke at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Leadership Summit in Orlando. Sandy was diagnosed with younger onset at age 47. In many ways, she is the real life Alice; educated, accomplished, strong, beautiful, a wife and mother, and living with Alzheimer’s.

Please do not think I am suffering. I am not suffering. I am struggling, struggling to be a part of things, to stay connected to who I once was. So, ‘live in the moment’ I tell myself. It’s really all I can do, live in the moment.

Sandy Oltz

Whether or not to see Still Alice, or when to see the movie and in what setting, is a very personal decision. I had the book on my Kindle for a couple of years before I worked up the courage to read it, and then it was only because I was going to be hearing Lisa Genova speak.

If you have lived the reality of Alzheimer’s disease, this film will be difficult to watch. It will inevitably remind you of moments with your own loved one: moments of anger, frustration, and fear. But it will also bring forth memories of a love the depth of which cannot be described. A love that goes far beyond words into a realm we never knew existed.

Still Alice has the power to change the way the world views Alzheimer’s. This movie represents a breakthrough. Alice is far from the stereotypical Alzheimer’s patient, and the message is simple: Alice Howland could be any of us.

There but for the grace of God go I.

We can only hope that as this powerful film works its way into the mainstream, people are inspired to join the movement to #ENDALZ. Because at the end of the day, it’s really just about love…

Understanding Alzheimer’s in Simple Terms

08 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, Helpful Resources

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alzheimers, dementia

A great video to share. Sometimes simple and straightforward fits the bill.

Alzheimer’s: When Will the Government Put Their Money Where Their Mouth Is?

03 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, ALZ Assn - National, Face of Alzheimer's, Facts & Figures, Helpful Resources, Life After Caregiving, NAPA, Research, Ruminations, USAgainstAlzheimer's, Washington

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alzheimers, Alzheimers advocacy, alzheimers funding, alzheimers research, dementia

In recent days, staunch supporters including Senators Susan Collins (ME), Edward Markey (MA), Amy Klobuchar (MN), and Jerry Moran (KS) have encouraged President Obama to include an increase for Alzheimer’s research in his FY 2016 budget. After all, what’s a “plan” to end Alzheimer’s by 2025 without the funding necessary to do so?

And the Verdict is in

Disappointment ensued as the Obama Administration released the proposed budget yesterday, and Alzheimer’s was overlooked. In a press release, George Vradenburg, co-founder of USAgainstAlzheimer’s said, “If we as a nation do not make Alzheimer’s research a top priority, we simply cannot meet our national goal of preventing and treating Alzheimer’s by 2025.”

What will it take to convince our government that unless we do something to stop it, Alzheimer’s will be the public health crisis of our lifetime? Perhaps the powers-that-be need to listen carefully to Michael Auslin’s story, or that of Karen Garner, whose husband was diagnosed before his 50^th birthday. What about Rebecca Emily Darling, who was just 26-years-old when her mother was diagnosed?

Proof in the Numbers

Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death among the top 10 in America that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed. More than 500,000 people die annually from Alzheimer’s.

Deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 68 percent between 2000 and 2010, while deaths from other major diseases decreased.

More than 5 million Americans are living with some form of dementia. If we remain on the current trajectory, that number will rise to 16 million by 2050.

Every 67 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s. By 2050, it will be every 33 seconds.

In 2014, the direct costs to American society of caring for those with Alzheimer’s totaled over $200 billion, including $150 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid.

Unless something is done to stop it, Alzheimer’s will cost an estimated $1.2 trillion (in today’s dollars) in 2050. Costs to Medicare and Medicaid will increase nearly 500 percent.

For more information, check out the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2014 Facts and Figures report.