AUGUSTA — The Alzheimer’s Association will host Maine’s Alzheimer’s & Dementia Advocacy Day from 8:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Hall of Flags on the second floor of the State House, 210 State St. All Maine residents are welcome to attend, according to a news release from Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter.

This day of state advocacy is designed to enable those affected by Alzheimer’s to share their experience face to face with state elected officials and influence them to address the economic impact of the Alzheimer’s epidemic and the care and support needs of Maine families.

“We encourage Mainers who want to show their support of Maine families affected by dementia to join us,” said Adam Lacher, director of Advocacy at the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, according to the release. “Personal stories carry the power to motivate our state officials to combat the Alzheimer’s crisis and effect positive change.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures Report, in Maine there are 27,000 people living with Alzheimer’s and 69,000 friends and family providing more than 78 million hours of unpaid care valued at $988 million. And more than half of all adults providing unpaid care to loved ones with dementia have been doing so for at least two years. More than 20 percent of dementia caregivers in Maine are in the sandwich generation — caring for both an adult and child or grandchild, according to the release.

MaineCare’s costs of caring for people with Alzheimer’s in 2017 was $187 million and is projected to increase by more than 42 percent by 2025. Nationwide, Alzheimer’s care is the country’s most expensive condition, according to the release.

For more information, contact Lacher at alacher@alz.org or 772-0115.

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