ATLANTA — Hundreds of people filled the Georgia gold dome with purple as advocates pushed lawmakers to pass more protections for people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
On Thursday, Dan Goerke visited the Capitol building for his 12th year in honor of his wife, Denise, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at just 56 years old and died from the disease in 2021.
"She would be telling me you better be fighting. And so that, that resonates with me every time I do this," he said.
Advocates with the Alzheimer's Association Georgia Chapter asked lawmakers for $450,000 in the public health budget for a brain health awareness campaign. They hoped that educating people could lead to an earlier diagnosis with earlier care.
"When you see hundreds of people wearing purple shirts, and you start telling your personal story of your loss from, because of the disease, legislators really listen," Goerke added.
Between 2020 and 2025, every state in the country will experience a surge of people living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association's report. The organization added Georgia's population is expected to increase by over 26%, with an estimated 190,000 people with the disease by 2025
"It's just, it's a disease that no one deserves. And it is a disease. It's not just something that happens to people because they're bad people or they did something," Goerke said.
At the Capitol, the group also pushed for House Bill 1123, which would protect vulnerable Georgians like those living with dementia – from exploitation, neglect and abuse.
The bill would also create a statewide elder justice coalition, which would include experts in aging, dementia and more.
Advocates filled the day with hope as they shared their own personal stories at each meeting.