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3/21/2025
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Deputy Whip Ackerman advocates for Alzheimer’s education and awareness
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 STATE HOUSE — House Deputy Majority Whip Mia A. Ackerman is leading the charge at the State House for Alzheimer’s awareness, introducing legislation to improve public health education about Alzheimer’s, speaking at the Rhode Island Alzheimer’s Association State Advocacy Day and introducing a resolution in support of Alzheimer’s awareness in Rhode Island.
“Despite the staggering impacts of this disease, public education about Alzheimer’s still lags behind. People know about Alzheimer’s, but they don’t know what to look for, and they don’t know what to do when they see it,” said Representative Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) at the Day of Advocacy kick-off rally Thursday. “That’s why I’m so happy to introduce this bill to both educate the public and medical providers on the value of regular cognitive assessments during annual wellness visits and the available treatments and methods of effective care planning for patients. This legislation was made possible by you, the advocates, and with your help we’ll be able to pass it into law this session.”
Representative Ackerman’s bill (2025-H 5619) would direct the Department of Health to work with the state advisory council on Alzheimer’s to develop and distribute educational materials concerning Alzheimer’s and dementia through their existing public health outreach programs. These materials would educate the public and medical providers on topics including the importance of prevention, of recognizing early warning signs, how other chronic health conditions impact and contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia, the value of regular cognitive assessments during annual wellness visits and the available treatments and methods of effective care planning for patients.
Representative Ackerman also introduced a resolution that was read and passed by the House declaring March 20, 2025, to be Rhode Island State Advocacy Day for Alzheimer’s Disease.
“For my friends at the Alzheimer’s Association of Rhode Island, for the family members caring for their loved ones with the disease, for my fellow legislators and state officials who are championing this issue and for all the advocates in the room and across the state, every day is Advocacy Day,” said Representative Ackerman. “Thank you all so much for your tireless work combating this devastating disease.”
IN PHOTO: House Deputy Majority Whip Mia A. Ackerman speaks at Alzheimer’s Day of Advocacy.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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