AOC must show up for Alzheimer’s
Jackson Heights: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has said health care is one of the very basic needs to sustain modern life that should be guaranteed in a moral society. Alzheimer’s, the most expensive disease in the United States, is hurting families in New York City and throughout the country. It costs Americans like me, a constituent in Ocasio-Cortez’s district, more than any other disease, including cancer and heart disease. The Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act will support those living with Alzheimer’s and their families by improving access to services like care planning assistance. The legislation is supported by a bipartisan coalition of congress members but Ocasio-Cortez has yet to co-sponsor or express her support for the legislation.
The Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act and Alzheimer’s disease itself is a nonpartisan issue, but I have had a difficult time getting that message across to Ocasio-Cortez and her staff. My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2013. In the years since she passed away, I have dedicated my time to working for legislation and funding to support those living with Alzheimer’s and their families as an Alzheimer’s Association advocate. I briefly met Ocasio-Cortez last winter at a community event, but I have been unable to meaningfully reconnect with her office. I have no reason to doubt that Ocasio-Cortez sincerely cares about working families like mine. I hope she sees the relationship between Alzheimer’s legislation, access to quality care and improving the lives of her constituents. Ocasio-Cortez, I and other constituents would love the opportunity to meet with you to share how Alzheimer’s has impacted our lives and how you can help. Teri Graham