Nikki Wegner

Mandan

As June, Alzheimer’s Brain Awareness Month is coming to an end I want to remind you that Alzheimer’s disease is especially prevalent here in ND.

Nationwide, more than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer’s, including 200,000 people who are below the age of 65. Because of their young age, people living with Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s are not eligible for support and service programs available to older Americans. This is disheartening for families that are not able to access these needed supports. The Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Act of 2019 (H.R. 1903 / S. 901) would fix this.

I’m asking Congress to pass the Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Act of 2019, which would allow individuals living with Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease to access supports and services from programs under the Older Americans Act (OAA). Those programs include nutritional services, supportive services, the National Family Caregiver Support program, and other services that enhance quality of life.

Please join me in asking Senator John Hoeven, Senator Kevin Cramer and Representative Kelly Armstrong to co-sponsor the Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Act of 2019. Visit alzimpact.org to get involved with the fight against Alzheimer’s.

Wegner works for the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota.