Alzheimer’s Association to host lighting ceremony on Capitol steps
January 31, 2022 – On Feb. 8, Florida’s Historic Capitol building will go purple again for Alzheimer’s awareness, and every Floridian will have an opportunity to watch.
Hosted by the Alzheimer’s Association, the annual lighting ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. EST on the Old Capitol’s steps and will be livestreamed by the Association’s Florida chapters on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
“We are so looking forward to lighting our Historic Capitol purple again this year,” said Angela McAuley, regional leader for the Alzheimer’s Association in Florida. “We know this event is always such a moving experience for our Alzheimer’s advocates because, for them, when we light that Capitol up, we aren’t just lighting a building – we’re lighting a beacon of hope.”
As part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s state advocacy days, the ceremony will emphasize the organization’s state priorities for the 2022 legislative session, which include:
- Enhanced dementia training and education for long-term care staff (SB 1572/HB 1507),
- A public health campaign to increase awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementias through the READY (Ramping up Education of Alzheimer’s and Dementia for You) Act (HB 475/SB 806),
- A continuation of funding for the Alzheimer’s Association Brain Bus,
- Funding for person-centered home and community-based services,
- A $10 million increase in funding for Alzheimer’s research, and
- Increases in Medicaid funding for nursing homes.
“Of the more than 6 million Americans currently battling Alzheimer’s disease, more than 580,000 of them are living right here in Florida,” McAuley said. “As we continue in our search for a cure, it is crucial that we do all we can to ensure our loved ones have access to the resources and support they need, as well as the highest quality of care.”
Other featured speakers will include elected officials, Alzheimer’s advocates from across the state and Florida Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Michelle Branham, who will discuss some of the current administration’s efforts to prioritize the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
“Governor Ron DeSantis has been unwavering in his commitment to putting seniors first in Florida,” Branham said. “By including $15 million to support Alzheimer’s disease research in his Freedom First Budget recommendations, the governor ensures that Florida will continue its progress towards enhancing diagnosis and prevention strategies and helping fight this disease. We are proud to work with the Alzheimer’s Association to continue raising awareness and advocating for the needs of some of our most vulnerable population in Florida.
“Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in both the United States and Florida,” she added. “Each year, Alzheimer’s kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, and Florida has the second-highest prevalence of the disease in the nation.”
For Bradenton resident Deborah Jobe, receiving her dementia diagnosis at the young age of 53 was a shock.
“It was utter devastation,” Jobe recalled. “It was as if your world was suddenly turned upside down and you are floundering, attempting to grasp and process what it means for the future and what to do next.”
Not knowing where to turn, Jobe was eventually directed to the Alzheimer’s Association and has been a strong voice for those living with dementia ever since. Currently, she serves as a member of the Alzheimer’s Association National Early-Stage Advisory Group, and following the Feb. 8 lighting ceremony, she will meet with her state legislators to share her experience living with dementia and discuss the ways in which she believes Florida could become a more dementia-friendly state.
“Prior to my diagnosis, I thought Alzheimer’s and other dementia only impacted old people,” Jobe said. “Now, I realize there are many different faces and stages of the disease. But the one thing we all have in common is that we are human and deserve to be treated with respect. I intend to use my voice for as long as I can to help educate people about dementia and the challenges it brings.”
For more information about the Alzheimer’s Association, visit alz.org or contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at (800) 272-3900.
Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia – by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Visit alz.org or call (800) 272-3900.
