“I have been caring for my husband who has Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease for the past ten years and continue to do so today. His grandfather, mother, seven of his mother’s siblings and two of his brothers have succumbed to this disease. My 88-and-a-half year old mother lives with me and also has Alzheimer’s Disease. I know firsthand the pain of watching someone slowly slip away by the ravages of Alzheimer’s Disease. I use my brain daily to figure out what it is that I can do to make a difference, bring attention to and change the culture around Alzheimer’s Disease. Two years ago, New Hampshire was one of only 13 states without a plan in place for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia. Although we are very private people, I overcame any apprehension I had about bringing our story public and testified before our State legislature three times, sharing intimate details of our story, to support the passage of a bill related to Alzheimer’s Disease. In August, 2014, the bill was signed by our Governor, putting in place a plan for New Hampshire. I now sit on our State’s House of Representatives Permanent Subcommittee for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia.”
BRENDA BOUCHARD
