NASW IL Networker November 2009 : Page 1

NASW Illinois Chapter Magazine Volume XLVII, 6 • November 2009 SOCIAL WORK NETWORKER ILLINOIS CHAPTER • ILLINOIS CHAPTER • ILLINOIS CHAPTER • ILLINOIS CHAPTER • ILLINOIS CHAPTER • ILLINOIS CHAPTER • ILLINOIS CHAP FROntOtempORAL DementIA: EArN your CEus bEForE thE NoV. 30th dEAdLINE! See pgs. 19–21 for more information! f3rom the president s10ince you asked s12tudent stand l13egislation/social policy 13 & 14 23 district / sig updates c19 around the state s24ervice directory/classifieds dArby MorhArdt, MSW, LCSW INtroduCtIoN society’s understanding of Alzheimer’s disease has grown markedly over the past twenty-five years. ontinuing education thanks in large part to the establishment in the 1980s of the Alzheimer’s disease Education and referral Center by the National Institute on Aging, coupled with the rise of the Alzheimer’s Association, there has been increasing public awareness and a multitude of research endeavors which have resulted in new drug treatments and models of care. Social workers’ involvement in this evolution has occurred on many levels of the care delivery spectrum, from providing education to and counseling diagnosed persons and families, to influencing local and national policy as society faces this looming public health care crisis. It is currently estimated that 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. due to increased longevity and the rise of the largest generational cohort ever to turn 60 years of age, society is preparing for an increasingly older adult population. Since age is the biggest risk factor, it is estimated that Alzheimer’s disease within our nation will be a staggering 16 million by 2050 if we do not find a way to Continued on page 4. 404 S. Wells 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607 312.212.3717 | www.naswil.org a common cause of yOuNgER ONsET dEmENTia CEU See page 6.

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