A heartfelt and personal discussion as Linda talks with her sister-in-law Ginge Cabrera about how she turned her pain over her mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s Disease into a passion for advocacy. Ginge’s grandmother was struck with the disease at age 75; and then—in a cruel twist of fate—her mom Jane Koones years later, at the exact same age. Ginge recounts how helpless and despondent she felt at not being able to help her mother as her dementia progressed with each passing year. Relief—coupled with an intense desire to make a difference—only came when she began working with her local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to get more money for research, better laws on the books and more effective and accessible drugs for the estimated 6 million Americans who have the disease.
In this episode Ginge touches on the latest pharmaceuticals that have been approved by the FDA, and offers numerous resources for families and caretakers of patients including:
*the website Alz.org
*the Help Line: 1-800-272-3900
In addition to raising funds, chairing events, and attending Alzheimer’s Association regional conferences, Ginge has also volunteered to take part in clinical trials. Anyone interested in participating in a trial can go here for more info.
