My wife has Alzheimer’s. I’m 70 and she is 78 and I am her 24/7 caregiver. I get a break when she goes to a high-quality day program three days a week ($1,700 a month out of pocket).
My wife is the best thing that ever happened to me and I love her. I’m not bitter or angry about the hand that fate has dealt us. I will keep her with me until the end, if I can.
What I’m angry about is that my U.S. senator, elected to represent my interests in the legislature, “a long-time advocate of Alzheimer’s research,” feels she needs to beg the Health and Human Services secretary to “work with her to preserve Alzheimer’s programs.”
The funds have been allocated. She should not be politely asking why research is being defunded. She should not be asking why the department workforce is being reduced by 25% when she is responsible for the allocation of funds and how they should be used.
She now has an opportunity to reassert her power. I humbly ask the senator to please vote against the budget bill before her.
John Schaberg
Portland
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