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Alzheimer's Association Of Hudson Valley Invites Residents To Lobby Albany

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Hundreds of advocates from the Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie and around New York State will gather in Albany on Tuesday, March 8, to rally in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and share their experiences regarding this devastating illness with their lawmakers.

Hundreds of local residents affected by Alzheimer's will travel to Albany on March 8 to rally in the fight against the disease.

Hundreds of local residents affected by Alzheimer's will travel to Albany on March 8 to rally in the fight against the disease.

Photo Credit: Alzheimer's Association of the Hudson Valley

The Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley chapter invites those whose lives have been touched by Alzheimer’s to participate in Rally Day 2016. A bus will pick up registered participants in Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Ulster counties in the morning on Tuesday, March 8, and transport them to and from the state Capitol in Albany. 

Legislation on the Association’s agenda this year includes bills designed to protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation — one would authorize banks to refuse payments when exploitation is suspected and the other would enable the Office for the Aging to educate the public about the danger of financial exploitation. Others would expand the actions home health aides are certified to perform and establish an online statewide advance directive registry. 

Catherine Wilson has advocated for greater Alzheimer’s resources on Rally Day before and plans to again this year.

 “I got involved because Alzheimer’s was rampant in my family,” Wilson said. “And the people who are the most aware of it, are the people with the least amount of time to advocate on behalf of (their) loved ones.” 

She said Rally Day is important because it’s an opportunity to make sure lawmakers understand how devastating the disease is: “Like so many laypeople, our representatives have a miscomprehension of what Alzheimer’s truly is. They think it is just memory loss, but it’s so much more than that,” Wilson said. “With Alzheimer’s, you can’t turn your back. Life comes to a halt. As a result, families go bankrupt. It affects you for decades to come.” 

Registration for Rally Day is $10 and covers the bus fare and lunch. To register, or for more information, contact Debbie Warburton at dwarburton@alz.org or 800.272.3900 or visit www.alz.org/hudsonvalley and click on the Rally Day registration link in the center of the home page. 

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