Riverside Health System is pleased to announce Rick Jackson was sworn in as a Member of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission for Virginia during a ceremony in York County earlier this month.
Jackson was appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe on July 1 and selected in part because of his role and experience as the System Director for the Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health, located in Williamsburg.
“It’s a great honor to receive this appointment and extend our work to help families afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease throughout the Commonwealth,” Jackson said.
In his role at the Riverside Center for Excellence in Aging and Lifelong Health, Jackson provides leadership for the center's work in health services research, provision of specialized services for older adults and community collaborative efforts to improve the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers.
The Governor’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Governor and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and exists to assist people with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders, as well as their caregivers.
“By now, most Americans know someone personally whose life has been changed by Alzheimer’s disease, either as a victim of the condition or as a family member caring for the person with the disease,” Jackson said.
And there’s a good reason for that familiarity.
“More than five million people in our country now have Alzheimer’s with more than 16 million family members providing their care while many more people of both groups are added to that number each year as the Baby Boomer population ages and all of us live longer,” Jackson said.
Serving them is at the heart of the Commission’s mission and its members.
The Commission is made up of non-legislative, appointed citizen members – three members are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, two are appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections and 10 are appointed by the Governor.
The Commission meets quarterly and all meetings are open to the public. Each year, the Commission prepares an annual report for the Governor and General Assembly, which is available online. Also, in the spirit of helping educate the community, the Commission also sponsors a website – www.alzpossible.org - accessible to Virginia residents looking to learn more about the Commonwealth’s commitment to those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The site highlights a series of free webinars, among other resources.