About AFA
Advocacy
AFA is involved in advocacy at the national and local levels in various ways, including:
- Advocating for legislation. Through AFA's Public Policy Office in Washington, DC and the activism of AFA's more than 1,400 member organizations, AFA aggressively advocates for legislative proposals that would have a direct impact on individuals with dementia—greatly improving the cost, delivery and quality of care. Click here for AFA's 2009 advocacy agenda. Click here for advocacy updates.
- Raising awareness. AFA meets with government officials, business and community leaders and healthcare professionals, and conducts outreach campaigns to the public to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses. These efforts are aimed at removing a stigma that surrounds the disease, providing education and encouraging Americans to obtain early diagnosis and support.
- Funding for care. AFA advocates for government funding at the federal, state and local levels, and private funding for social services to provide optimal care to individuals with dementia and their families.
- Early detection initiative. AFA advocates for a national private-public health initiative to promote both early detection of dementia and cognitive wellness. This encompasses educating the public about the importance of early detection, expanding access to free memory screenings across the U.S., and distributing information about the disease and successful aging.
- National Memory Screening Day. AFA holds an annual National Memory Screening Day each November to promote early detection of Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses, and to educate the public about dementia and cognitive wellness. Sites in communities across the U.S. offer the free, confidential screenings to those concerned about memory problems (www.nationalmemoryscreening.org).
- National Commemorative Candle Lighting. AFA coordinates an annual National Commemorative Candle Lighting each November to remember those who have passed away from Alzheimer's disease and related illnesses and to honor individuals with the disease and their families who are currently affected. These local ceremonies from coast-to-coast also serve to raise awareness, to promote community support services and to encourage Americans to undergo memory screenings and other evaluation with the goal of early detection (www.candlelighting.org).
- AFA Quilt to Remember. AFA presents the AFA Quilt to Remember to bring comfort and hope to the world, to unite caregivers and to heighten awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses. The AFA Quilt to Remember--the first-ever national dementia-related quilt of this grand a scale and that will expand in size with ongoing contributions--pays tribute to individuals with dementia—both who have passed and who are living, as well as family caregivers, other family members and healthcare professionals committed to the cause.
Alzheimer's Foundation of America 866.AFA.8484