Christian Sandoval

Dr. J.Koppell, Dr. E. Eisen-Cohen

National Service and American Democracy CPP 112

April 28, 2021

Alzheimer’s Association

How Alzheimer’s mobilize’s and engage’s American society into building a better future.

Introduction
 The Alzheimers Association was founded by Jerome H. Stone in 1980 after his wife was

diagnosed with Alzheimers. At the time, Information regarding Alzheimers was limited and not

well understood. Jerome decided to make a stand and speak loud enough to get a movement and

awareness about Alzheimers rolling. The organization seeks to provide support to victims of

Alzheimers, bring caregivers together and advance and fund research and insight into the

Alzheimers disease. The main vision of the organization is to see the world with no Alzheimers.

The main mission of the Alzheimers association is to advance research on a global scale, create

less risk and create better early detection systems, and maximize support and medical care. The

Alzheimers association has been able to flourish civic engagement, encourage mobilization,

foster an identity, create social capital and contribute to American democracy due to the negative

Bye-products of Alzheimers.

Identity

The main Identity of The Alzheimers Association is the Alzheimers disease itself. Sub

identities include other neurological diseases such as Dementia, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s

disease. The identity of Alzheimers itself is difficulty in remembering or retaining information,

confusion, void of information in their given environment, difficulty in physical tasks and bodily

functions. ( Alzheimers association ). There is a shared identity among the organization that

consists of victims of Alzheimers and dementia related diseases and family member and friends

of victims to the disease. This large base of people have been directly affected by Alzheimers

directly or dealing with it by having a friend or family member diagnosed with it, making them

all experienced in the problem at first hand.

Social capital
 The Membership of the Alzheimers Association in its most literal sense is applying for a

job to work for them. The Alzheimers Associations brands itself as “a great place to work” with

an inclusive and diverse workplace, training opportunities and learning investment with a

work/life balance. ( Alzheimers associations ). There are no political dimensions to the non-

profit organization, as the Alzheimers association brands itself a more medical support group and

does not have any political ties to any political organization or affiliation. Furthermore, there is

no Economic dimension tied to the organization since it is a non-profit organization. While the

Alzheimers association does have finance reports, it does not fall under the category of

economics since the organization falls under non-profit.

Civic engagement

An important aspect when it comes to charities and non-profit organizations is building

social capital. As said by Ms. Sagawa “ For a nonprofit organization, that means a committed

community of staff, donors, volunteers, and friends who can provide access to other social

networks. These networks lead to other essential forms of capital — financial, human, and

political -- that allow the organization to increase its impact and influence even more ” ( Sagawa

ch. 9 ). The civic engagement provided by the Alzheimers association is its advocacy in policies

at the sate and federal level. For example, The Alzheimers association has increased the federal

government’s funding into Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

(Alzheimer’s Association ). The Alzheimers Association is also currently trying to pass

legislation which coordinates efforts to fight and treat Alzheimers by 2025 on a national scale,

this legislation is called the National Alzheimer’s Project Act. ( Alzheimers association ).

Mobilization
 The Alzheimers Association mobilizes under the guise of the Alzheimers disease,

essentially rallying together people who been affected by it, wether it be victims, family

members of said victims and Doctors or researchers who study Alzheimers and Dementia related

illnesses. Because of this, They garner a large amount of support and members across the nation.

Messages they use include is providing and Enhancing care and support, accelerating Alzheimers

research, spreading awareness, strengthening diversity and inclusion, advocating public policy

and legislation through government. ( Alzheimers association ). The main reason This

organization comes together is to provide care for those affected by Alzheimers and to find a

cure for it. The Alzheimers does attempt to solve the issue of Alzheimers by funding research

and advocating for policy such as the National Alzheimer’s Project Act. Furthermore with

providing care and resources to victims of Alzheimers.

American Democracy

Personally from what I’ve learned from this course and how this applies To serving and

participating within your community, such as the Alzheimers association has helped me better

understand organizations and learn new things. Ive learned a lot more about groups, non-profits

organization, government funded organizations, charities and etc. Ive learned how the

Alzheimers organization works and how it interacts with its community and it gains and rallies

support and better understanding its mechanisms. The Alzheimers association fills in the level of

“non-profit charity/ organization” within society. This kind of service is unique because this is a

group that was made by the people for the people. This shows that problems don’t need to be

addressed, noticed or fixed by state and federal governments, but by instead people and

surrounding communities.

Conclusion
 Jerome H. Stone founded the Alzheimers Association in 1980 after his wife was

diagnosed with Alzheimers. Information regarding Alzheimers was limited and wasn’t

researched well enough for medical experts to properly treat it at the time. Jerome decided to

gather fellow citizens and family members affected by Alzheimers to spread awareness. The

organization seeks to provide support to victims of Alzheimers, bring caregivers together and

advance and fund research and insight into the Alzheimers disease. The vision of the

organization is to see the world with no Alzheimers and have it be eradicated. The main mission

of the Alzheimers association is to advance research on a global scale, create less risk and create

better early detection systems, and maximize support and medical care. The Alzheimers

association has been able to flourish civic engagement, encourage mobilization, foster an

identity, create social capital and contribute to American democracy due to the negative Bye-

products of Alzheimers.

Works cited

“What Is Alzheimer's?” Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, www.alz.org/alzheimers-

dementia/what-is-alzheimers.

“Achieve Your Higher Purpose.” Career Site | Alzheimer's Association, jobs.alz.org/.

Sagawa, Shirley. Sign In with Auth0, John Wiley and Sons, 2010,
courses.ea.asu.edu/courses/course-
v1:ASU+PAF112+2211B/courseware/95f7edeab4dd485688f5f08805858d9b/3d8a43714
8af493bb45a512a3db5c569/?activate_block_id=block-v1%3AASU
%2BPAF112%2B2211B%2Btype%40sequential%2Bblock
%403d8a437148af493bb45a512a3db5c569.

“Our Impact.” Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, www.alz.org/about/our-impact.

“Strategic Plan.” Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, www.alz.org/about/strategic-plan.