My mother and my aunt just died within 2 months of each other with Alzheimers. They were 96 and 99, and had lived full lives. However, watching the essence of themselves that we had loved slip away was devastating. Following my brothers example (He is a past board chairman of the Am Cancer Society worldwide) yesterday I joined the Alzheimers Association and the National Association for Mental Illness. The received an instant response from the local chapter leader and they will soon put me to work. Instantly, I felt a sense of relief. These two organizations are underfunded. The numbers of Alzheimers cases will be staggering in future years. In mental health, no one knows better than we do that more qualified psychiatrists, longer sessions, and more research on medications is needed as well as education to reduce stigma.