Feb. 9, 2026

Alzheimer’s Advocacy at the State Capital: Fighting for local Caregivers and Caree’s

Alzheimer’s Advocacy at the State Capital: Fighting for local Caregivers and Caree’s

In today's episode, you will hear all that went on for Alzheimer's Advocacy at the Georgia State Capital in Atlanta. We showed up with facts, handwritten notes, and a clear ask: allocate $2 million for caregiver support programs that keep families afloat and reduce avoidable health costs. That number might seem small until you compare it to what families already contribute—775 million hours of unpaid care in Georgia, valued at $13 billion. When you see that gap, the request becomes a re...

In today's episode, you will hear all that went on for Alzheimer's Advocacy at the Georgia State Capital in Atlanta. We showed up with facts, handwritten notes, and a clear ask: allocate $2 million for caregiver support programs that keep families afloat and reduce avoidable health costs. 

That number might seem small until you compare it to what families already contribute—775 million hours of unpaid care in Georgia, valued at $13 billion. When you see that gap, the request becomes a refund on dignity.

What brought the day to life were the people behind the statistics. Meet Ross: two years into an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, a former long-term care insurance pro who now leans on the very coverage he once sold. He can’t work in the same way, but he’s found a new job—advocating, educating, and showing up for others who wake to the same reality. 

We walked offices, delivered fact sheets, and invited representatives to a simple lunch. We also learned a powerful truth repeated on both sides of the aisle: lawmakers want to hear from us. They need the lived details—how mornings fall apart without rest, how training prevents injuries, how a navigator can keep a family from burning out. Data sets the stage, but stories decide the scene. 

Many thanks to the Alzheimer's Association of Georgia for inviting us. Visit Alz.org for more information. 

If you’re caring, cared for, or simply care, your voice can shift policy. Share the episode, bring a friend into the conversation, and tell your representative what support would change your week. Subscribe, leave a review, and send this to someone who needs strength today.

Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles

Producer/Videographer: Mia Hall

Editor: Annelise Udoye


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00:00 - On The Capitol Steps

00:11 - Shoutout And Community Vibes

02:20 - Turning The Capitol Purple

03:00 - The $2M Caregiver Ask

04:10 - Lobbying Up Close

05:35 - Power In Numbers

06:55 - Meet Ross: Living With Alzheimer’s

10:40 - From Long-Term Care Pro To Patient

13:20 - Using Policy To Help Others

WEBVTT

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I am standing on the Georgia State Capitol steps.

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It is Alzheimer's Advocacy Day.

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And we're about to go and let them know how we need a budget of$2 million for programmers support for caregivers next year.

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Parenting up Caregiving Adventures with comedian Jay Smiles is the intense journey of unexpectedly being fully responsible for my mama.

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For over a decade, I've been chipping away at the unknown, advocating for her, and pushing Alzheimer's awareness on anyone in anything with a heartbeat.

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That's why I died for a comedy.

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Don't be ready for the dog.

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Caregiver newbies, OGs, and village members just willing to prop up a caregiver.

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You are in the right place.

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Hi, this is Zettie.

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I hope you enjoy my Dorcas podcast.

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Is that okay?

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Today's supporters shout out is from YouTube.

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I Y A P O F O Luke 4803.

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I'm not even gonna try to put the acronym out that thing, okay?

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And it states live long and prosper.

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Don't worry, be happy.

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Okay, caregivers.

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What's better than that?

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Okay, it is it is a mental struggle, and and I'm with you.

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I'm with you.

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IOPO Fulluke, 48, 30, 80, 80.

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Okay.

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Thank you so much for sending that in.

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Now, if you want to be the recipient of a supporter shout out, you know what to do.

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Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

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Today's episode, Alzheimer's Advocacy at the State Capitol, fighting for local caregivers and careers.

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It's Alzheimer's Advocacy Day in 2026.

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I'm in Atlanta, Georgia, and it is a group of us walking around turning the capital purple.

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Everybody has on purple something.

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I actually have on purple undies and socks too.

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That's how down I am with it, so it could be coming out of my pores.

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So what are we doing here?

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We are going to our state senators and our state representatives to tell them we have an ask.

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Our ask is for$2 million to be appropriated for caregiver support programs.

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Alright, I ain't gonna get into the details, I don't want to bore you, but what we're doing is we're using these cute little cards, we're writing inside handwritten notes, old school style, leaving them with our senators or representatives, and then we're giving them these cute fact sheets with all kinds of numbers and figures and stuff.

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What's up, people?

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We are making it happen.

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It's your girl Jay Smiles.

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I am at the 2026 Alzheimer's Advocacy Day at the State House of Georgia.

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I'm so official, I got a badge.

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You can't get a badge unless you are in these purple streets.

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I can't wait to tell y'all what we've been doing and how we're fighting for Alzheimer's and caregivers by lobbying with our legislators.

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Lobbying ain't a bad word.

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It's only if your cause is trash and ours is not.

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This is my first day participating in the Georgia State Capitol Advocacy for Alzheimer's Awareness Day.

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It's 2026.

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And I tell you what, it will not be my last.

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I cannot express enough gratitude that Georgia's Alzheimer's Association chapter invited me, Jay Smiles and Parenting Up, to come and be a part.

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Advocating to our lawmakers on the policies that matter to us, that is the best part about being a United States citizen.

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Go talk to them and remind them that they work for us and this is what we need.

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This is where we want the money to go.

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We are here with the Alzheimer's Association.

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Today we're advocating and asking for uh the lawmakers to appropriate$2 million for the caregiving support programs.

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So I'll leave this.

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We are also at 12 o'clock, we're gonna have free lunch.

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So you can come over if you want.

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Yeah, see, that's what I'm saying.

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At Central Presbyterian Church, just one block, well, a block and a half away.

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And we would love it if Representative Barry could stop by because there are a few of us.

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That's right, free lunch today at 12.

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Church.

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Yes, that's right.

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At the church at 12 p.m.

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And um it would be great if he could come at 12 p.m.

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today.

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And we would love it if he could come.

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All right, I'll tell her.

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Alright, thank you.

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Jay Smiles, I'm a comedian and a podcaster, but I I look forward to meeting Representative Barry.

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Okay.

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Thank you.

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Oh, good snacks.

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Thank you.

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The most emotional part of the day has been meeting other advocates like myself and finding out their story.

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There is uh power in numbers, and it's actually uplifted my spirit because I'm like, okay, there are other people out here who got a really, really sucky hand of cards as it relates to somebody they know or they love or in their family that now has Alzheimer's.

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But they're out here fighting too.

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So, Jay, don't feel far sorry for yourself.

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Shake it off.

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Go out here and fight and do something.

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This is like fighting for civil rights, civil liberties.

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We're saying we need these dollars to go toward health care support.

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One of the buddies that was in my group, his name is Ross, he's living with Alzheimer's, and he's out here advocating and walking around in the rain and in the cold to talk to his elected officials.

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I'm like, what?

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Absolutely, I can go and fight.

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This man has the disease and he's doing it.

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You know what I mean?

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What's up, family?

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This is my new Alzheimer's best friend, my guy Ross.

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What is extremely unique about him that you can't tell from looking at him is he is living with Alzheimer's.

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He's about two years in to his diagnosis, his story, and his life.

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I haven't even known him that long, but it is captivating and intriguing.

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We are both here today for Alzheimer's Advocacy Day.

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What makes you decide that you want to come and actually be at the Georgia State Capitol and try to talk to elected officials?

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Well, once I was diagnosed, you know, it took away my ability to work in the area of long-term care insurance.

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So you you okay, that's a little bit ironic.

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You used to be in long-term care.

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Yeah.

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Ross, what makes you so committed to coming to uh Alzheimer's Advocacy Day and walking around talking to elected officials in in Atlanta?

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Well, if I can, since I went up to see the congressional people.

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In Washington, D.C.

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In Washington, D.C.

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last fall or last spring.

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And I and I got to meet, and probably the best story I have is I went up, and the night before I was told I would be the first speaker at the three different, the two senators and the rep the representatives, yeah, that I would be introducing and sharing my story of having cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment at the time.

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So I thought that was pretty neat.

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And uh I really can't work out in the regular marketplace anymore.

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And I figured, well, if I can do things with the Alzheimer's Association, maybe I can help other people trying to, you know, handle having Alzheimer's.

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Yeah.

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And with me, it's just okay, you know, some days are better than others.

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You know, some days I lose things.

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Like today, I uh put an envelope through the machine to go see one of the senators, and I left them the packet in the machine, you know.

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But there was no money in it.

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No, there was nothing.

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No, it's money, yeah.

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You know, I don't have any money.

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I have a daughter and a wife, you know, so there's no money.

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You know, and my wife took over my business, so you know, I gotta go out and do something.

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And I figured if I can help people try to live and enjoy themselves, um I think that's a good giveaway.

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Yes, I think that's I think that's amazing, Ross.

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Yes.

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And you told me a little earlier that your career, you had a business offering selling long-term health care insurance, which as a comedian I find that has a lot of irony in it when it turns out that you were diagnosed with uh mild cognitive impairment at the time, which we know that often leads to Alzheimer's.

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Correct.

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But it worked out in your favor because you know a lot about uh long-term healthcare insurance and you you already had some in place.

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Right, which was great.

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We bought, we had a uh, when we got married and stuff, my wife was had a very nice job in Atlanta.

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And uh I was working for myself.

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You know, not the perfect organized thing, but it was we were uh we each did very well in what we did.

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Well, when I got sick, um I well, uh even before I got sick, you know, I was working with like 1700 congregations uh nationally, and you know, they all didn't buy, but they got educated.

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Yes.

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And quarterly I'd go around with uh my rabbi friend, and he would uh have he would answer people would ask questions about aging issues, and he'd always send them over to me.

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And then I never expected that I would end up uh being the person using the long-term care insurance I bought.

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It was funny because my wife wanted no part of us buying it because we had resources from our regular work, right?

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And I said, you never know.

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And it's funny because now we both are getting ready to have to use our insurance.

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Uh my wife is a little bit, you know, she's more concerned about um taking care of my daughter who might be getting married soon.

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Okay, you know, and I have a brother that is a little older and he's starting to fall apart.

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And I just sit there and try to enjoy myself and help others, and that gives me a sense of, well, it's like going to work, but I'm going to work to help others.

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That's the best ending.

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Going to work to help others.

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That's my guy Ross.

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You'll see him again.

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And then another person in my group, I found out that she uh this was a couple of uh years ago now, but she was caring for both parents who had Alzheimer's, and she had three kids under 10 at the time.

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This disease is ugly.

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Out of all these cute little pieces of paper they gave us, this is the one that hit me the most, just for Georgia.

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In 2025, in Georgia, 384,000 family caregivers, unpaid care hours, 775 million.

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I know at least five of those million are mine.

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And the value of the unpaid care.

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13 billion dollars.

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That means off my back and your back, the state of Georgia saved 13 billion dollars.

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So I'm gonna need them to go ahead and give us that two million back in next year's budget to support caregivers.

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Just nuggle up.

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People, you will not believe how much our elected officials, academic scientists, and community policy leaders, and governmental research people want to hear from us.

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They have all of these fancy lobbies coming in and all group worth of millions of dollars.

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And they have science and they have potions and hate traditions, and then how we're gonna put together nice looking reports.

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But what I heard over and over and over again from both sides of the aisle was we need to know the life experiences of people with Alzheimer's and the people that care for them.

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We want to hear it.

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What is it?

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I'm sorry, I listened from the horse's mouth.

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So that's my takeaway.

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The horse's mouth is still the winner.

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Thank you for tuning in.

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I mean, really, really, really thank you so very much for tuning in.

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Whether you're watching this on YouTube or if you're listening on your favorite podcast audio platform.

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Either way, wherever you are, subscribe and come back.

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That's the way you're gonna know when we do something next.

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Y'all know how it is.

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I'm Jason Miles.

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I might just drop something hot in the middle of the night.