We Appreciate Your Help

The Michigan Senate is positioned to cut nearly $400,000 for Alzheimer’s programs from the State budget. This will severely impact the programs and services we now offer here in northern Michigan.

Senator Tony Stamas, District 36, and Representative Andy Newmann, District 106, are part of the decision making process in Lansing. They can influence the outcome of the nearly $400,000 budget line items.

Please call them today with this short message: “Do not cut programs for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and their families. Keep the Healthy Michigan Fund and the Older Adult Initiative line items in the Department of Community Health budget.” Most important, personalize the message with a short message about how Alzheimer’s Disease has affected you and your family.

Those living in Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Crawford, Oscoda, Alcona, Ogemaw, Iosco, Gladwin and Midland counties, please contact Senator Stamas at 866.305.2136; fax at 517.373.2678 or write him at:

State Senator

The Honorable Tony Stamas

P.O. Box 30036

Lansing, Michigan 48909-7536

To contact State Representative Andy Neumann those living in Presque Isle, Montmorency, Alpena, Crawford, Oscoda and Alcona counties, please contact Representative Andy Neumann at 877.737.4106; fax at 517.373.8446 or write him at:

State Representative

The Honorable Andy Neumann

P.O. Box 30014

Lansing, Michigan 48909-7536

4th Annual Caregivers Count

Thursday, May 28th
Granum Theatre at Alpena Community College

check in at 8:30 - cost $10/per person at the door and includes lunch
please call 989.358.7928 or e-mail Karol Cain to pre-register

Guest speakers include:

Dr. Joann Root
Diane O'Connor - Alzheimer's Association
Trooper Andrew Ambrose - Michigan State Police
Mary Supiran - Tendercare Alpena
Pegg Thomas - Alzheimer's Association
Karol Cain - The Caring Place
Chef Eric Peterson - The Fresh Palate

The program runs until 4:00pm. All caregivers and family members are welcome to attend.

You Are Invited!

to our

Open House

Alpena Office
526 W Chisholm St

May 20th

4:00 - 6:30pm.

Stop by and see our new office, meet the staff and learn about what we do here to help people in Northern Michigan.

We have a wonderful quilt to raffle this summer! The White Pines Quilt Guild from Harrisville, MI, has donated this quilt to the Alzheimer's Association to help us raise money for our Memory Walk. The gals meet once at month at Hollyhocks Quilt Shop in Harrisville. Hats off to the gals in the guild!

The quilt is simply lovely. It is queen bed size with 12 different snowman squares and beautiful machine quilting through all the layers. What a perfect quilt for Northeast Michigan! In the photo is Jan Mooradian (wife of author Tom Mooradian) from the White Pines Quilt Guild. Jan has spearheaded this whole project.

Tickets are available at the Alpena Office, 526 W Chisholm St, or from the White Pines Quilt Guild members. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Drawing will be held at the Alpena Memory Walk on September 19th, at the Band Shell in Bay View Park around 11:00am. You need not be present to win!

For more information, you can contact: Pegg Thomas in the Alpena Office.

Memory Walk 2009 is getting under way!

Our Alpena Walk has it's website up and running! You can visit us here. Whether you can come and join us in person or if you want to create a 'virtual' Memory Walk team... we'd love to have you! You can sign up on-line or contact our Alpena office at 989.356.4087.

The Traverse City walk site will be up soon!

Making the Most of the Visit

If you have a friend or loved one who suffers with Alzheimer’s Disease or another form of dementia, visiting can be both stressful and uncomfortable. But it doesn’t have to be! Taking a few moments to prepare for your visit, using some easy to obtain materials, engaging in some simple activities and utilizing new communication skills can turn that visit into something very special for both you and your person with dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Association will be hosting a presentation at the Alpena County Library on March 24^th from 6:00 to 7:30pm. The presentation, “Making the Most of the Visit”, is geared towards those who either regularly or occasionally visit a friend or loved one with dementia. There will be time for questions and answers after the presentation.

Don’t let uncertainty rob you of time spent with your loved one who suffers from dementia. There is no cost for this presentation, however, donations are always welcome and help support the Alzheimer’s Association in northern Michigan.

For more information about “Making the Most of the Visit”, please contact the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Michigan Chapter office in Alpena at 989.356.4087.

A New Beginning - Blogging

Today we start a new venture into cyberspace. Why? To reach the families and friends of people who have Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia. We have two goals for our blog:

1) To provide up-to-date, useful information
2) To give people another avenue to contact us 24/7

We are located in Northern Michigan with offices in both Alpena and Traverse City. We cover all 21 counties of the northern lower peninsula. We have a staff of 6 and someone will be checking our blog on a daily basis.

Thank you for visiting! We hope to be a valuable tool as we progress with our blog!