Month: June 2025

Alzheimer's Advocacy Forum 2025

Alzheimer’s Advocacy Forum 2025

Posted on | by Alzheimer's Association

Energized advocates commit to doing more in the fight against Alzheimer’s

More than 1,100 passionate advocates from all 50 states put on their purple and gathered in Washington, D.C., to kick off the 2025 Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum. Whether it was their first or 10th time attending, advocates with their own unique yet somehow shared experiences felt connected and empowered by the Forum’s energy.

Forum Co-Chairs Leah Farley and Hector Montesino welcomed new and returning advocates and reflected on how attendees have been impacted by dementia in different ways. Some have lost loved ones to the disease, while others are caregivers for someone living with dementia; others, like Farley, are living with Alzheimer’s.

Farley explained how she met her good friend Kerry Dennis, who was experiencing a similar Alzheimer’s journey, by chance and how they both became involved with the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Since meeting Kerry and my involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association, I’ve strengthened my voice through advocacy,” Farley said.

Highlighting his own commitment to advocacy, Montesino shared his personal connection to the disease with his abuela, Ana Maria Espinal, as well as his decision to pursue a career in the home- and community-based care sector. Montesino and Farley joined with their fellow advocates to reaffirm their relentless commitment to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

“Today, there are more than 1,100 of us in this beautiful room, and there are millions and millions more at home,” Montesino said. “It’s our community, it’s our friends, it’s our family. And we’re just going to continue to fight.”

Joanne Pike, DrPH, Alzheimer’s Association president and CEO and AIM CEO, amplified the excitement by recognizing and thanking advocates for all of the amazing progress over the last year. “Last fall, because of you, we celebrated the renewal of three of the most important bipartisan laws on Alzheimer’s and dementia — NAPA, the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, and BOLD,” Pike said.

During the last Congress, 1,870 health-related bills were introduced. Only 16 were signed into law. Of those 16, three were the Association’s priority bills.

Pike addressed proposed cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and how the Association and AIM are taking action. By addressing misinformation, collaborating with the research community and working to ensure that policymakers at the federal and state levels uphold our nation’s strong commitment to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementia, the Association, AIM and advocates are making a difference.

“The Alzheimer’s Association and AIM will do more, not less,” Pike said.

Read more about successes on the state level here.

LGBTQ+ Seniors

Celebrating Pride Month: Aging with Pride

Posted on | by CareAvailability

Honoring the Progress and Needs of LGBTQ+ Seniors in Senior Living Communities

As we celebrate Pride Month, it’s important not only to honor the trailblazers who fought for equality, but also to recognize the ongoing needs and achievements of the LGBTQ+ older adult community—many of whom were on the front lines of those early fights. Today, many senior living communities across the nation are making strides to better serve and support this vibrant and resilient population.

A Lifetime of Resilience

Many LGBTQ+ seniors came of age in a time when being open about their identity could result in job loss, rejection from family, criminalization, or worse. As a result, some older adults still carry the emotional weight of decades spent in silence or isolation. Now aging into retirement, these individuals face a new set of challenges—particularly around finding safe, inclusive environments where they can age with dignity, acceptance, and community.

Progress in Senior Living: From Marginalization to Inclusion

Until recently, LGBTQ+ seniors often reported feeling unwelcome or invisible in traditional senior housing environments. But in the last decade, a noticeable shift has occurred. Senior living communities are increasingly recognizing the need for inclusivity and have begun transforming their operations, amenities, and policies to reflect that understanding.

LGBTQ+ Seniors

Key Improvements in LGBTQ+ Inclusivity:

  • Cultural Competency Training: Many facilities now provide staff education on LGBTQ+ history, terminology, and best practices to help ensure respectful and affirming care. This includes understanding unique health risks and social experiences faced by LGBTQ+ seniors.

  • Inclusive Marketing and Policies: More communities are updating their non-discrimination policies and marketing materials to be visibly inclusive of LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, signaling safety and acceptance from the start.

  • LGBTQ+ Resident Support Groups: Recognizing the importance of community, some facilities now offer dedicated social groups or events for LGBTQ+ residents, providing spaces to share experiences and build friendships.

  • Celebrating Pride and Identity: Increasingly, senior living communities are actively participating in Pride Month celebrations, hosting inclusive events and flying rainbow flags to show solidarity with residents and staff.

  • LGBTQ+-Focused Communities: A small but growing number of retirement communities are being developed specifically with LGBTQ+ older adults in mind—offering not only physical amenities but a deeply rooted culture of inclusion and acceptance.

Looking Ahead: A More Inclusive Future

While much progress has been made, challenges remain. According to advocacy groups like SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders), many LGBTQ+ seniors still report fears of discrimination in long-term care settings. Continued education, advocacy, and structural changes are essential to ensuring that every aging adult can feel seen and supported.

As we honor Pride Month, let us celebrate not only how far we’ve come—but commit to building a future where LGBTQ+ seniors never have to go back into the closet to receive care. Because everyone deserves to age with pride.