EDITORIAL: Law that improves Alzheimer's care a welcome idea

May 23--A group of hardy advocates who traveled to the State House last week aren't waiting for the happy moment when Alzheimer's Disease might finally be cured.

Friends and family members of people who have suffered from the illness that causes memory loss are acting now to improve the lives of those already burdened with it.

The House passed the Massachusetts Alzheimer's Dementia Act (H. 4116) in January and the state Senate will consider it this summer. Among those listening to the SouthCoast group that went up to Boston on May 15 was Allison Blanck of Sen. Mark Montigny's office.

The proposed law would establish a comprehensive state plan to address Alzheimer's overseen by the Executive Office of Human Affairs.

It would create a permanent advisory council and require that curriculum on the disease be incorporated into medical education programs for renewing medical licenses. It would create minimum training standards for elder protective services social workers; and require state hospitals to implement an operational plan for recognition and management of patients with dementia or delirium.

Alzheimer's legislation like this is long overdue and as the huge Baby Boom generation begins to enter their retirement years more needed every year.

Alzheimer's is one of those diseases which unless you or a loved one is afflicted by it you can easily be unaware of the devastating toll it takes. Not just on the person afflicted but especially on the caregivers who lose control of their lives as much as the victim does.

Among those who traveled to Boston last week were John and Christine Gallagher of Dartmouth. John, 73, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when he was 69. He's doing everything he can -- walking 12 miles each day, eating healthy and remaining social -- to do what he can to keep the progression at bay.

Gallagher and others like him have determined not to be invisible. They are aware that one of the best ways to make progress -- both from a research and caregiving standpoint -- is to keep awareness of the disease before the public.

The Senate should give careful attention to H. 4116 and any other proposals that would address the issues surrounding Azheimer's. It is an illness so common that it will eventually touch most of us one way or the other.

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