On Thursday, March 19, 2009 more than 500 guests will gather to celebrate those who are currently fighting and, sadly, those have lost their battle with Alzheimer’s disease at this year’s “A Toast To Remember” wine and beer tasting event.  This year’s event will be held at the breath taking River East Arts Center, 435 East Illinois, in Chicago’s historic downtown.  The Premier Wine Tasting Lounge begins at 5:00 p.m. upstairs and wine and beer tasting begins at 6:00 p.m. downstairs, the entire event concludes at 9:00 p.m.

In early February 2009, the Greater Illinois Chapter will begin offering Memory Loss 101 as an online course free of charge. Originally designed as an in-person training course, Memory Loss 101 is intended for family caregivers as an introduction to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This state-of-the-art program is divided into four training modules:
1. An Overview of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
2. The 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s disease
3. Diagnosis and Treatment
4. The Alzheimer’s Association Programs and Services

We are pleased to announce the official launching of the E-Helpline: Community Resources, our on-line tool for staff and community members to search for local resources.

The moving of our Helpline Resource lists from Word documents to the on-line database (accessible via the Greater Illinois Chapter (GIC) internet site) not only provides the Care Navigation staff with more efficient and fine-tuned searching capabilities when assisting people through Helpline, it also allows our constituents to locate needed resources at any time when visiting our website. 

The African American population is at an elevated risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease according to a national study conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association’s National Office.  It is because of this elevated risk factor that the Greater Illinois Chapter has continued much needed outreach efforts in this under served community. 

Under the successful leadership of Beverly Kimmons, Manager of Education and Outreach, the Greater Illinois Chapter has formed bonds with service providers, community health organizations, government agencies and many other entities within the African American Community.

The 2009 Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day, a day when concerned citizens join Chapter representatives to bring about the growing crisis of Alzheimer’s disease with their state representatives in Springfield is set for March 18. To become a part of our ever-growing team of Alzheimer’s advocates or to learn more about Alzheimer’s advocacy or Alzheimer’s disease, please click here.

The Greater Illinois Chapter gathered individuals in the early stages recently to hear about needed programs. Three focus groups took place in Bloomington, Aurora and Elk Grove Village, Illinois. A total of 39 people participated including 20 individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the early stages or with early onset (younger than 65 years old).

The American Society on Aging has selected Daniel Kuhn, Director of the Chapter’s Professional Training Institute, to receive its 2009 Mental Health and Aging Award. 

Mr. Kuhn was nominated by Chapter colleagues Nicole Batsch, Director of Early Stage Services and Susan Rothas, Senior Manager of the Professional Training Institute. The award will be given during the annual Aging in America Conference sponsored by the American Society on Aging and National Council on Aging in Las Vegas on March 17th. Congratulations for all your hard work!

Once again, Illinois taxpayers have the opportunity to contribute to the Alzhiemer’s Disease Research Fund through their state income tax returns.

Donations support research in Illinois to find a cure and more effective diagnoses and treatments for this debilitating disease. Since 1986, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund has received $3.3 million and supported 153 research studies in Illinois.

A minimum of $100,000 must be collected each year for the fund to appear on the following year’s tax form. We appreciate any assistance you can provide in urging Illinoisans to donate to this worthy cause.

The Greater Illinois Chapter is proud to announce the hiring of Andrea Davis who will be the Manager of Corporate Initiatives.  Prior to her employment with the Alzheimer’s Association Ms. Davis worked for the American Cancer Society for 4 ½ years.  During her tenure at the American Cancer Society she provided cancer education programs to community groups and corporations and then moved into corporate fundraising and development as a Corporate Relations Officer, working primarily with Fortune 1000 companies and large employers in the Chicago area. Before moving to Chicago in 2004 she served as a Program Director for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Welcome Andrea!

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