Alzheimer’s Disease
Dear Editor: Alzheimer’s disease takes a devastating toll, not just on those living with the disease but also on their caregivers. My father was heartbroken having to watch my mother battle Alzheimer’s for 13 years until she passed away in 2010. He needed as much support as possible to care for her.
Currently, there are more than five million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 6,400 Alaskans. In addition, more than 15.7 million Americans are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, including 33,000 caregivers in Alaska.
To provide access to information and support for those impacted by Alzheimer’s, the Alzheimer’s Association strongly supports the Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act (S.857/H.R.1559).
The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act would provide Medicare reimbursement for services to increase the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias as well as provide access to information and support for newly diagnosed patients and their families. It would also ensure that an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis is included in the individual’s medical record.
Care planning services following a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can provide crucial information on treatments, services and supports that may help improve or maintain quality-of-life for the individual, their family and caregivers.
I invite Daily Sitka Sentinel readers to contact Sen. Sullivan and Sen. Murkowski, encouraging them to cosponsor the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act to help ensure Medicare beneficiaries newly-diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and their families receive comprehensive care planning services.
Cindy Harris, Alzheimer’s
Association Alaska Ambassador
Conditional Use Permit
Dear Editor: The board of directors of the SEER School wishes to offer support to Terry’s Learning Center in its application for a conditional use permit to operate in the central business district. As a board and as a school, we support the broadening of educational opportunities for Sitka children and believe that all students should have appropriate options available in order to receive the enrichment and instruction that best fits their needs. Terry’s Learning Center provides services that are important to its currently enrolled children and has a history of operating in this location.
Students in Sitka are fortunate to have a number of educational opportunities available to them and we believe that the city’s boards and commissions should support these opportunities by clearing obstacles whenever possible.
The Board of Directors
of the SEER School
Chinese New Year
Dear Editor: I want to give thanks for the successful Chinese New Year celebration together with the Sitka Monthly Grind this February.
Thanks to Jeff Budd and the Monthly Grind team’s awesome job.
Thanks, MEHS, Kris Fulton and Sitka Spruce Celtic Dancers, Melinda McAdams and Sitka Studio of Dance, Trisha Bessert and Sitka Gymnastics, and all performers in the Grind.
Thanks, Charles Hart, for the wonderful “Monkey King” play. His fabulous performance made a lively Monkey King.
Thanks, Song Mayo, for playing “Nezha,” the cutest young god.
Thanks, Zak Dylan Wass and Emily Kwong, for playing the thunder god and lightning god.
And special thanks to Seaton Bryan for being the cool narrator.
Also, thanks for everyone who participated in the Chinese New Year celebration in town. The Chinese New Year celebration has been in Sitka for three years. It makes Sitka my second hometown.
Thank you for all your support, fantastic Sitkans!
Summer Shen, Sitka
