Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the Neighbor Network of Northern Nevada has been awarded $999,994 in federal grant funding to provide quality support for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers so those individuals can remain independent and safe in their communities. Cortez Masto personally advocated for this funding with the administration.
“I watched my grandfather care for my grandmother while she had Alzheimer’s, and no one should have to experience that without support,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Neighbor Network of Northern Nevada’s innovative programs are critical for those living with dementia and their caregivers, which is why I pushed to get them the funding they deserve. This is a devastating disease, and we must continue to do all we can to help address it. I’ll keep working to support Nevadans living with dementia and their families.”
“We are so grateful for this funding, which will support people living alone with dementia and people diagnosed with both a developmental disability and dementia, in addition to helping family caregivers manage the behavioral symptoms of dementia,” said Neighbor Network of Northern Nevada Executive Director Amy Dewitt-Smith. “While these types of services are always important, they have become critical as people grapple with COVID and its effect on their access to important community resources and each other.”
Funding Alzheimer’s research and providing support for those experiencing it has been a significant health care focus for Senator Cortez Masto. In 2018, she secured passage of her bipartisan BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act to reduce risk, detect early symptoms, advance care, improve data, and ultimately change the trajectory of this devastating disease. Cortez Masto’s bill delivers $20 million annually to help state, local and tribal public health departments implement effective Alzheimer’s interventions. Funding under that legislation has recently gone directly to the state of Nevada. The Senator also supports the bipartisan Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act to help the 95% of individuals with dementia that have one or more other chronic conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.
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