This past year, excitement bubbled over in the dementia health community when two treatments for Alzheimer’s disease received FDA accelerated approval. However, the drugs were out of reach cost-wise and due to the limitations of access placed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Although the U.S. Veterans Health Administration decided to provide coverage of Leqembi, one of the new treatments, we still have a long way to go to ensure everyone who needs this treatment has access to it at a reasonable cost.
The Alzheimer’s Association California Chapter (alz.org/socal) and its Southern California counterparts mobilized more than 400 volunteers via the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (alzimpact.org), and these individuals made more than 600 legislator connections across the aisle. Throughout all advocacy efforts, which are ongoing to this day, the Chapter continued to support local and global research and ensured on-the-ground care and support were available to all those who may need it along the way.
The Alzheimer’s Association has served the Los Angeles community in these capacities
for more than 40 years and will continue to do so until the world is dementia-free. However, none of this work happens through our team alone.
The Alzheimer’s Association California Southland Chapter is a fortunate member of a corporate-philanthropic community that comes together annually, made up of thousands of people who strap their velcro or lace up their sneakers, and simply go for a walk.
October 28, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Los Angeles returns to the City of Angels, and we are asking for you to join us as a volunteer on the walk’s executive leadership committee led by Juan Calcagno, Managing Director at MUFG Americas, and as a corporate supporter.
Funds raised at the walk remain local. Some ways we put these donations to good use include:
• Monies raised support the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900), available 365 days per year and with services available in 200+ languages.
• In 2022 alone, more than $7,000,000 in new funding was invested in Los Angeles-based research institutions, joining more than $25M in active research funding across the city and more than $320,000,000 in active research the Association funds worldwide.
• Last year, the Chapter partnered with Gdavis Productions and Films, LLC, to bring the stage play Unforgettable to the Wilshire Ebell Theatre as a new way to provide dementia education across underserved communities and hosted community forums focused on improv- ing health equity.
• We partnered with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to provide deputies with the skills to recognize dementia signs, effectively communicate with the individual and their family caregivers and de-escalate situations involving an individual living with dementia.
• We provide free, local support in every way we can in-person, via phone, online and our team would be honored to break bread with yours: we offer Lunch and Learns through which we provide Alzheimer’s and brain health education on-site for your employees.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s Los Angeles takes place just one morning a year. Researchers are available to answer any questions about current studies across care, support and science participants may have. Families dance and celebrate community. Sponsor areas – such as the Promise Flower Garden and Champions Area – bring together businesses who provide information, knowledge and enable hope to take over the event space.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s Los Angeles is made possible by the efforts of its executive leadership committee, community partners, supporters and the California Southland Chapter Board of Directors, led by Chair David Glass, managing partner of Enenstein Pham & Glass.
It’s true that the event takes place just once a year; however, the community impact from the walk and its leadership remains impactful year-round. Please join us as a volunteer, a walker, a committee member or as a sponsor- as together we work toward prevention, treatment and a cure for Alzheimer’s and all other dementia, while helping those in our community facing a diagnosis every step along the way.
Allyson Laughlin is VP, marketing and communications at Alzheimer’s Association California Chapter. Learn more at alz.org/socal or alzimpact.org.
