BOSTON, Sept. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Mayor
Martin J. Walsh and the Alzheimer's
Association, Massachusetts/New
Hampshire Chapter were recognized today for their efforts to ensure
the city of Boston is prepared for
the fiscal and social impact of Alzheimer's disease.
The Alzheimer's Readiness Award was presented to Mayor Walsh and
James Wessler, CEO of the
Massachusetts/New Hampshire
Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, on behalf of the
Alzheimer's Readiness Project, an initiative of Eli Lilly and
Company (NYSE: LLY) committed to inspiring action by fostering a
deeper understanding of Alzheimer's, its evolving science and the
public health crisis it poses. The award recognizes their
collaborative efforts to partner across government, healthcare and
advocacy organizations to develop action plans that prepare the
city to effectively address the growing crisis of Alzheimer's
disease.
"Mayor Walsh has been a visionary leader, preparing his city to
better meet the challenges that Alzheimer's disease presents to
communities from the financial, societal and system perspectives,"
said Phyllis Ferrell, vice president
and head of Lilly's Global Alzheimer's Disease Platform
Team. "The partnership between the Mayor and the Association
has created a model that could be replicated across the country. By
uniting patients, families, and caregivers with health care
professionals and community leaders, they have ensured
comprehensive planning and services can be available in
Boston."
In 2014, Mayor Walsh founded the Boston Alzheimer's Initiative
and made Boston the first major
city to join the Alzheimer's Workplace Alliance, providing support
and education to thousands of city workers whose families were
affected by the disease. In partnership with the Alzheimer's
Association, the city has trained more than 300 emergency medical
responders (EMS) to recognize the signs and behavior of individuals
with Alzheimer's, and how to best refer them to proper care and
services. In addition, the city recently launched its first 'Memory
Cafe,' a place where individuals with memory loss and their
caretakers can meet in a safe, social environment to share
resources and support one another.
"It is an honor to receive this award from Lilly and the
Alzheimer's Readiness Project, both leaders in raising awareness
and offering support to those most impacted by Alzheimer's," said
Mayor Walsh. "I understand the toll Alzheimer's takes on a family,
and the love and patience that is required to care for someone with
the disease, which is why I'm proud of the work we're doing in the
city of Boston. I look forward to
continuing our work in the city to offer our residents the best
services and support to those impacted by the disease."
"Alzheimer's is becoming a major health care challenge not only
for the families impacted, but for our community all together,"
said Jim Wessler, President and CEO
of the Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter. "Our
vision is a world without Alzheimer's. Until we reach that vision,
it is important to have the best minds working together to provide
support and resources."
Ferrell noted that "Lilly has been continuously working toward
identifying meaningful solutions to help those living with
Alzheimer's disease and their families. We're hopeful that by
helping organizations work together to identify the issues and
challenges within their communities, we'll play our part in
tackling Alzheimer's disease."
About the Alzheimer's Readiness Project
The mission of
the Alzheimer's Readiness Project is to inspire action by fostering
a deeper understanding of Alzheimer's, its evolving science, and
the public health crisis it poses. Through outreach, events, and
partnerships, the Project strives to be an important voice in the
global Alzheimer's disease conversation, elevating awareness of the
need for and value of advancements in the fight against Alzheimer's
disease. For more information, please visit
www.alzreadinessproject.com.
About Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a
fatal illness that causes progressive decline in memory and other
aspects of cognition. It is the most common form of dementia,
accounting for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.1,2
There are currently an estimated 47 million people living with
dementia worldwide.1 The number of people affected by
dementia is expected to be more than 75 million in 2030 and 132
million in 2050.1 Estimates vary, but experts suggest
that as many as 5.4 million Americans may have Alzheimer's
disease.3
About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly is a global
health care leader that unites caring with discovery to make life
better for people around the world. We were founded more than a
century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines
that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in
all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover
and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve
the understanding and management of disease, and give back to
communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more
about Lilly, visit us
at www.lilly.com and newsroom.lilly.com/social-channels.
About the Alzheimer's Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire
Chapter
The Alzheimer's Association, with headquarters in
Watertown, has regional offices in
Springfield, Raynham, and Worcester, MA and Bedford, NH. The Alzheimer's Association
provides services and programs for those with Alzheimer's, family
and professional caregivers in the form of support groups, a 24/7
Helpline, care consultation, advocacy efforts, research funding and
education programs. For more information visit alz.org/MANH or call
800-272-3900.
C-LLY
1 Alzheimer's Disease International. Dementia
statistics. http://www.alz.co.uk/research/statistics. Accessed
February 2016.
2 Alzheimer's Association. What Is Dementia?
http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp. Published January 2016. Accessed February 2016.
3 Alzheimer's Association. 2016 Alzheimer's Disease
Facts and Figures Report. Available at
http://www.alz.org/documents_custom/2016-facts-and-figures.pdf.
Accessed May 2016.
Refer
to:
|
Courtney Kasinger,
kasinger_courtney_c@lilly.com; 317.440.4699 (Lilly)
|
|
Heather MacFarlane,
hmacfarlane@alz.org; 617.393.2055 (Alzheimer's
Association)
|
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