>> AN IMPORTANT DEADLINE WAS CHANGED FOR THE LEGISLATURE IN CARSON CITY AND A NEW GROUP WANTS TO MAKE NEVADA DEMENTIA FRIENDLY.

THAT'S THIS WEEK ON "NEVADA WEEK."

[MUSIC] >> SUPPORT FOR "NEVADA WEEK" IS PROVIDED BY SENATOR WILLIAM H. HERNSTADT.

>> WELCOME TO "NEVADA WEEK."

I'M MARIA SILVA, IN FOR AMBER RENEE DIXON, WHO IS ON MATERNITY LEAVE.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL GET TO THE EFFORT TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUT FIRST IMPORTANT BILL DEADLINES HAVE CHANGED IN THE NEVADA LEGISLATURE JOINING US TO TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON IN CARSON CITY IS JACOB SOLIS REPORTER FROM THE NEVADA INDEPENDENT.

JACOB, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT DEADLINE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, LEGISLATORS KICKED IT BY A WEEK.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IS LEGISLATORS HAVE A BUNCH OF BILL DRAFT REQUESTS AND THOSE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INTRODUCED ON THE FLOOR OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE BY WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LAST MONDAY.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THEY MOVED IT A WEEK TENTATIVELY AND WE'LL SEE IF THE REST OF THE BILLS ARE INTRODUCED BY THIS MONDAY.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MANY BILLS.

HOW MANY HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED?

AND HOW MANY STILL NEED TO BE INTRODUCED?

>> WELL, THERE'S MORE INTRODUCED EVERY DAY.

I HAVEN'T CHECKED THE FLOOR SESSIONS TODAY.

BUT WE'RE PROBABLY WELL OVER 700.

AND USUALLY THERE'S ABOUT A THOUSAND.

EVERY SESSION IT'S ABOUT THAT MUCH.

>> SO THEY HAVE THE WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FACT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.

IT HAPPENED, LAST TIME WAS COVID RELATED.

WHAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND THIS POSTPONEMENT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO LIKE YOU SAID, IN 2021, THERE WERE LOTS OF COVID RESTRICTIONS, A LOT FEWER PEOPLE COULD BE IN THE BUILDING.

THAT MADE DRAFTING BILLS A LOT HARDER.

THAT'S WHY THEY MOVED THE DEADLINE THEN.

THIS TIME IT APPEARS TO BE MORE OF A STAFFING PROBLEM.

THAT THERE'S JUST AS MANY BILLS AS EVER.

BUT BECAUSE VACANCY RATES AND AGENCIES AND THAT INCLUDES THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUREAU, ALL THESE LAWYERS WERE HELPING TO DRAFT SOMETIMES VERY COMPLICATED, SOMETIMES TENS, HUNDREDS OF PAGES LONG BILLS, ALL OF THAT HAS CRAMMED UP AND GUMMED UP THE WORKS.

>> WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON NEXT DEADLINE BUT SOME BILLS WERE INTRODUCED SOME VERY IMPORTANT ONES, SOME DEALING WITH GUN RESTRICTIONS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT ONE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO SANDRA JAUREGUI, A DEMOCRAT FROM LAS VEGAS, INTRODUCED A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT WOULD EXPAND CERTAIN GUN CONTROLS, ONE OF THEM FOR INSTANCE WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO POSSESS OR SELL CERTAIN SEMI-AUTOMATIC FIREARMS SHOTGUNS OR RIFLES TO PEOPLE UNDER 21.

AND IT WOULD CLEAN UP SOME OF THE STATE'S GHOST GUN BANS, TRYING TO GET RID OF GUNS THAT DON'T HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS AND CLEANING UP THE LEGAL LANGUAGE THERE.

AND I THINK IT'S STILL AN ISSUE.

>> WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AS WELL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO TENANT RIGHTS.

SEVERAL ADVOCATES WERE UP THERE IN CARSON CITY.

A BIG THING THAT HAPPENED IS ALSO THE OVERHAULING SUMMARY EVICTION.

THAT BILL WAS INTRODUCED.

>> YES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I THINK WITH HOUSING, THAT SUMMARY EVICTION PROCESS IS ONE THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE TAKEN AN EYE ON BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MOVE THE ONUS TO THE TENANT TO THE LANDLORD.

NOW TENANTS HAVE TO FILE SORT OF A CHALLENGE TO AN EVICTION PROCEEDING.

NOW WHAT DEMOCRATS WANT IS TO MAKE IT SO THAT LANDLORDS HAVE TO FILE FOR EVICTION IN THE FIRST PLACE IN COURT.

AND A LONGER SHOT, FOR INSTANCE, SOME DEMOCRATS ARE ALSO LOOKING AT MAYBE INCREASING TENANT RIGHTS.

MAKING IT RENT CONTROL OR MAKING IT HARDER TO RAISE RENTS BEYOND CERTAIN INFLATIONARY LEVELS.

THAT APPEARS TO BE A MORE DISTANT GOAL.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PUSH BACK FROM WITHIN EVEN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IT'S LESS CLEAR WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH ESPECIALLY WITH A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO DOES NOT WANT RENT CONTROL.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR, JOE LOMBARDO EXPECTED TO BE IN CARSON CITY, WHAT WILL HE BE DISCUSSING?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SO HE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO COME TO THE LEGISLATURE, WE THINK, HERE TODAY, ON THURSDAY, TO TESTIFY IN FRONT OF LEGISLATORS FOR HIS BILL ON SCHOOL VIOLENCE.

AND THIS IS ALL ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

IN 2019 LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATS BACKED -- I'M SORRY A BIPARTISAN EFFORT RATHER I SHOULD SAY OF LEGISLATORS BACKED A BILL THAT DID CHANGE THE DISCIPLINE SYSTEMS IN SCHOOLS TO PUT LESS OF AN EMPHASIS ON SO-CALLED PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE AND MORE OF AN EMPHASIS ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

BUT THIS, A LOT OF TEACHERS HAVE SAID, HAS CREATED A VIOLENCE CATASTROPHE, ESPECIALLY IN CLARK COUNTY, BUT EVEN IN RURAL AND WASHOE COUNTY DISTRICTS.

NOW THE GOVERNOR AND DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE A PUSH TO TOTALLY REFORM THIS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MODEL WITH THE GOVERNOR IN PARTICULAR LOOKING TO STRIP IT BACK ENTIRELY.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE'LL BE GOING BEFORE LAWMAKERS DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SPEAKING OF SCHOOLS AND SAFETY AND SECURITY.

THERE WAS ANOTHER IMPORTANT HEARING THAT HAPPENED THERE, THAT ONE INVOLVING THE CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT DR. JESUS JARA AS WELL AS POLICE CHIEF MIKE BLACKEYE.

TELL US ABOUT THAT HEARING AND WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT HEARING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS ONE CAME OUT OF A PARTICULAR INCIDENT WHERE THERE WAS A VIDEOTAPE OF CCSD POLICE HAVING AN ALTERCATION WITH A STUDENT IN LAS VEGAS THAT WENT VIRAL ONLINE.

BUT WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS EVEN THOUGH THE SORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE PLAYED A VIDEO, PLAYED THAT VIDEO, THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO DISCUSS IT.

AND SO WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS THIS SORT OF GENERAL DISCUSSION ABOUT POLICE USE OF FORCE BY SCHOOL POLICE IN CLARK COUNTY.

AND WHAT WE HEARD WAS, FRANKLY, A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION AT THE WAY THAT FORCE IS USED.

BUT WE ALSO HEARD CCSD CHIEF BLACKEYE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION THAT IT'S VERY EASY TO CRITICIZE SCHOOL POLICE, BUT THEY'RE UNDERRESOURCED AND UNDERSTAFFED AS WELL.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT THE REASON THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE IT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, YES.

>> BEFORE WE DO LEAVE YOU WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IN DETOX, YOU WERE CO-HOSTED BY COMODERATOR OF THAT EVENT.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT EVENING.

IT WAS A VERY LIVELY CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF NEVADA'S TOP LAWMAKERS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE GOT ALL FOUR TOP LAWMAKERS IN THE ROOM.

AND YOU KNOW ON SOME STUFF THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BUDGE.

FRANKLY THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT MOVING AN INCH ON ELECTION REFORMS, FOR INSTANCE.

THEY WANT TO KEEP THE MAIL-IN ELECTIONS AS THEY ARE.

THE REPUBLICANS OBVIOUSLY WANT THINGS LIKE VOTER ID.

STUFF OF THAT IS A NONSTARTER FOR DEMOCRATS BUT ON ISSUES LIKE EDUCATION WE HEARD BOTH PARTY LEADERS SAY THEY WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FROM SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.

IF THEY GIVE THEM $2 BILLION INCREASED FUNDING WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING THIS SESSION THEY'RE ASKING THE SUPERINTENDENTS TO JUSTIFY HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SPEND IT.

SO THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF COMPROMISE.

>> DEMENTIA COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF BRAIN ISSUES THE MOST COMMON FORM WELL KNOWN IS ALZHEIMER'S BUT THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MOVIE STAR BRUCE WILLIS HAS A RARE FORM OF DEMENTIA HAS PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE DISEASE.

RECENTLY A GROUP IN NEVADA RELAUNCHED ITS EFFORTS TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CARE PARTNERS.

AND JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE DISEASE THAT IMPACTS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND THEIR FAMILIES IS KATE INGALSBY, PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE CLEVELAND CLINIC LOU RUVO CENTER FOR BRAIN HEALTH AND CAROLINE BAUMIS, PROGRAM MANAGER WITH THE DESERT SOUTHWEST ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION.

BOTH SERVE AS COFACILITATORS OF DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CLARK COUNTY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CLARK COUNTY.

AS WE MENTIONED IT'S JUST RELAUNCHED.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT HERE IN CLARK COUNTY SPECIFICALLY AND WHAT DOES DEMENTIA FRIENDLY MEAN?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE OUR DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CLARK COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP IN CLARK COUNTY BECAUSE WE WANT TO HYPERLOCALIZE AND HYPERFOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN CLARK COUNTY.

DEMENTIA FRIENDLY COMMUNITY ACTUALLY MEANS THAT IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT IS SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

>> CAROLINE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT FIRST MEETING.

IT WAS SUCH A GREAT TURNOUT.

POSITIVE NEWS.

>> IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER.

AND ALL OF US HAVE OUR OWN PERSONAL STORIES AND CONNECTIONS TO ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA.

AND ALL OF US ARE REALLY THERE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY, TO COME TOGETHER, DO A NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

AND FIND OUT WHAT CAN WE DO AS THE NUMBERS HERE IN NEVADA ARE GROWING VERY FAST, HOW DO WE PROTECT THOSE THAT ARE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND RAISE AWARENESS AND WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT FRIENDLY.

WE WERE AT THE AIRPORT AND WE SAW A MAN WHO WAS LOST.

AND SOMEONE WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIM.

HE WAS BUYING THEM DRINKS.

SO WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES IN THE COUNTY AND REALLY WHAT CAN WE DO TOGETHER AS A POWERHOUSE OF ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE THAT BE SOMETHING OF THE PAST.

>> AND LET'S TALK ABOUT, YOU MENTIONED SO MANY FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THIS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT BOTH OF YOU VERY PERSONAL.

>> MY MOM WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH VASCULAR DEMENTIA AFTER HAVING A STROKE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

SO I CAN TELL THE STORIES OF A CAREGIVER AND I CAN HONESTLY SPEAK TO THE OVERWHELMING CHALLENGES THAT EVERY CAREGIVER FACES.

AND SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT TYPE OF CHALLENGES YOU'RE GOING TO FACE AS THE CAREGIVER UNTIL IT WINDS UP AT YOUR DOORSTEP FAST AND FURIOUS.

THESE ARE SOME CHALLENGES THAT AS CAREGIVERS WE SEEK TO SUPPORT OUR CAREGIVERS AND CAREGIVERS ARE ACTUALLY PART OF THE CARE PLAN.

AND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CAREGIVERS HAVE THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL STORY.

>> I GOT A PHONE CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID FROM NEW YORK, RIGHT IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THAT THEY FOUND MY MOTHER'S CAR TEN MILES FROM HER HOUSE.

BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE SHE WAS.

THEY WENT TO DO A WELLNESS CHECK.

SOON AFTER THAT, IT WAS THE WIDE FAST ROLLER COASTER OF DEMENTIA.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT DEMENTIA WAS.

I HAD NO IDEA.

AND TRYING TO MANAGE THAT FROM CALIFORNIA WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

EVEN AS A SOCIAL WORKER, FOR MYSELF.

I HAD SUCH A HARD TIME MANEUVERING THE JOURNEY AND GETTING THE ANSWERS THAT I WANTED.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY GETTING HER TO A SAFE PLACE.

THEY KEPT DISCHARGING HER BECAUSE SHE HAD A COVID DIAGNOSIS.

AND THEY COULDN'T RELEASE HER TO A NURSING HOME SO THEY WOULD JUST RELEASE HER HOME BECAUSE THEY NEEDED THE BED.

IT WAS HORRIBLE, ON TOP OF EVERYTHING, HERE WE WANT TO FORGET, BUT THE PANDEMIC MADE THINGS A LOT HARDER BACK THEN.

>> BOTH HAVE BEEN OFFERING WONDERFUL COURSES EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WAS GOING THROUGH THAT WITH HER HUSBAND AND SHE SAID IT WAS LIFE-SAVING TO HAVE THOSE COURSES ONLINE.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE COURSES THAT YOU DO HAVE RIGHT NOW FOR CARETAKERS.

>> SO EDUCATION IS KEY.

WE ALWAYS SAY THAT EDUCATION IS KEY WHEN IT COMES TO CAREGIVING.

AND YOU HAVE TO STAY EDUCATED AS A CAREGIVER.

WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF CAREGIVING SUPPORT AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS FOR EACH TYPE OF DISEASE THAT WE TREAT AND MANAGE.

WE HAVE YOGA FOR MS AND PD.

WE HAVE MUSIC THERAPY.

WE HAVE THERAPEUTIC COUNSELING SERVICES.

WE HAVE OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS SUCH AS OUR WEEKLY LUNCH AND LEARN PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO GO OVER ALL OF THE DISEASES THAT WE TREAT AND PROVIDE TIPS AND TRICKS TO MANAGE THOSE DISEASES.

WE HAVE EVIDENCE-BASED POWERFUL TOOLS FOR CAREGIVERS PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM REALLY HELPS CAREGIVERS LEARN HOW TO DESTRESS AND LEARN HOW TO MANAGE THE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN.

AND REALLY LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES BECAUSE WE'VE LEARNED THAT CAREGIVERS ARE SO BUSY TAKING CARE OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

SO SOMETIMES THEIR MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN KIND OF FALL DOWN THE HILL BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE.

>> WE HAVE EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS TOO AS WELL.

WE HAVE THEM ONLINE AT ALZ.org.

A WONDERFUL RESOURCE FOR CAREGIVERS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE SUPPORT GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE NEWLY LAUNCHED ONE.

SO FOR SOMEONE LIKE MYSELF, I'M CAREGIVING FOR SOMEONE IN ANOTHER STATE.

SO IT'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU CAN BE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT GROUP.

WE ALSO HAVE A RESPITE PROGRAM, WHICH I RUN.

AND WE GIVE OUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR TO HELP WITH THOSE COSTS, BUT IN DOING SO, WE JUST HEAR THE STRUGGLES AND HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR HEALTH, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCIALLY.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S 89,000 CAREGIVERS IN NEVADA AND IT'S COSTING 2.6 BILLION IN LOST WAGES.

SO WE HEAR THEIR STRUGGLES.

AND WE'RE ACTUALLY COMING TOGETHER TO PUT A RETREAT TOGETHER THIS SUMMER SO THAT CAREGIVERS CAN GET THE RESOURCES THEY WANT.

IT'S COMING FROM MY OWN SELFISH EXPERIENCE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO NAVIGATE AND NOT KNOWING WHERE TO GO.

SO WE WANT TO PUT THOSE RESOURCES TOGETHER AND HELP MAKE THAT JOURNEY A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER.

>> WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT THE CAREGIVERS, THE CARE PARTNERS.

WE DO WANT TO SHOW YOU A QUICK VIDEO.

BRUCE WILLIS JUST CELEBRATED A BIRTHDAY WITH HIS FAMILY.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE SAW HIM SINCE HIS RECENT DIAGNOSIS.

AND HIS WIFE, EMMA, PUT OUT A VERY TOUCHING EMOTIONAL VIDEO AND WE WANT TO SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT IT HAS ON CAREGIVERS.

>> I'M ALSO RAISING TWO KIDS IN THIS.

SO SOMETIMES, IN OUR LIVES, WE HAVE TO PUT OUR BIG GIRL PANTIES ON.

AND GET TO IT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

BUT I DO HAVE TIMES OF SADNESS, EVERY DAY.

GRIEF EVERY DAY.

AND I'M REALLY FEELING IT TODAY ON HIS BIRTHDAY.

>> WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT?

>> THE STRUGGLING CHALLENGES THAT EVERY CAREGIVER FACES IN THEIR CAREGIVING JOURNEY.

THIS IS VERY REAL.

HER GRIEF AND THE STRUGGLES THAT SHE FACES ARE VERY, VERY REAL IN EVERY CAREGIVER'S LIFE.

I CAN SAY THAT.

IT'S AN OVERWHELMING JOB.

AND IT'S A TOUGH JOB.

BUT IT ALSO IS A JOB THAT COMES FROM THE HEART, OUT OF LOVE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS PART OF DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CLARK COUNTY AND THE ASSESSMENT ON YOUR WEBSITE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ON THERE TALKED ABOUT DO YOU KNOW THE 10 SIGNS OF DEMENTIA.

AND I DON'T THINK A LOT OF US KNOW -- I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

I HAD TO GO LOOK IT UP.

>> OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT KEY PRIORITY FOR DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CLARK COUNTY BECAUSE WE NEED TO HEAR THE VOICES OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR STRENGTHS AND GAPS ARE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY IN RELATIONSHIP TO DEMENTIA AND DEMENTIA-RELATED RESOURCES.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO GET A GLIMPSE OF SOME OF THE ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS ABOUT DEMENTIA THROUGH THAT SURVEY.

SO WE AS A COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP OF DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CLARK COUNTY WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING OUR GOALS UNTIL WE HAVE THE RESULTS OF THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY COMPLETE THAT ASSESSMENT AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE TEN SIGNS IS ON THERE BECAUSE LIKE YOU JUST SAID, HOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE TEN SIGNS?

AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS THE AWARENESS IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT DEMENTIA AND THE TEN SIGNS OF DEMENTIA.

SO THAT WILL GIVE US ANOTHER LEVEL OF A GOAL TO WORK ON IS MAYBE IT COULD BE CREATING THAT AWARENESS.

>> PUT THAT ON YOUR WEBSITE AS WELL BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS WE SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR NOW?

>> MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REALIZE IS DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S ARE NOT A HEALTHY NATURAL FORM OF AGING, IT'S JUST NOT.

SOME OF THE SIGNS IT'S OKAY EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I FORGET MY LAPTOP OR KEYS BUT IF YOU'RE PUTTING THE KEYS IN THE FREEZER THEN THAT'S A PROBLEM.

MEMORY LOSS THAT DISRUPTS YOUR DAILY LIFE.

WE SEE A LOT OF WITHDRAWAL, MOOD CHANGES, THE SPATIAL IMAGES, FORGETTING THINGS, NOT BEING ABLE TO RETRACT THAT, REMEMBER IT.

IT SUMS IT UP WITH MEMORY THAT AFFECTS YOUR DAILY LIFE.

BUT ALSO YOU SEE A LOT OF WITHDRAWAL.

MY MOM BECAME VERY MOODY.

WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY.

NOW WHEN WE PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER, NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KNOW THOSE SIGNS, WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT CAME IN A DAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD TO BECOME AN EXPERT IN SOMETHING I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE ANOTHER GREAT THING THAT BOTH OF YOU ARE DOING IS GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.

YOU HAVE 24/7 HOTLINE AS WELL.

>> WE DO.

IT'S IN 100 LANGUAGES.

WE ALSO VIRTUALLY YOU CAN TAKE ALL OF OUR PRESENTATIONS YOU CAN TAKE THEM IN SPANISH.

WE HAVE SOME IN MANDARIN WE'RE WORKING ON MORE AND WITH THE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR US IS TO GET THAT OUT IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES BECAUSE WE WANT ALL VOICES TO BE HEARD.

>> WE HAD TALKED ABOUT DURING YOUR MEETING, OFF CAMERA, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT PEOPLE WERE VOLUNTEERING.

>> YES.

>> TO TRANSLATE.

WHICH IS SO WONDERFUL.

THE COMMUNITY REALLY IS COMING TOGETHER FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A HEALTH CRISIS.

>> EXACTLY.

AND THAT'S TRUE.

THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE BUILT ALREADY, THROUGH DEMENTIAL FRIENDLY CLARK COUNTY REALLY DOES HAVE A HEART FOR THIS DISEASE AND THEY SEEM TO BE VERY COMMITTED AND THEY REALLY WANT TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A VERY STRONG GROUP RIGHT NOW THAT CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR GOALS.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU HAD SOME OF YOUR VOLUNTEERS, SOME ADVOCATES UP IN WASHINGTON D.C., THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, NATIONWIDE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN D.C. >> WE HAD ABOUT 900 VOLUNTEERS, ADVOCATES FROM OUR AIM MOVEMENT, WHICH IS FOR LEGISLATION.

AND THEY WERE THERE BASICALLY JUST SAYING ENOUGH.

WE WANT MORE TIME.

THE CENTER FOR MEDICAID SERVICES BLOCKED THE FDA TREATMENT THAT WE HAVE OUT, WHICH CAN BE USED IN EARLY STAGES OF DEMENTIA.

IT ONLY WORKS IN EARLY STAGES.

SO THEY BLOCKED THIS.

THAT'S WHY WE WERE THERE.

KIND OF RAISING AWARENESS AND KIND OF PUTTING OUR VOICES OUT THERE SAYING, LOOK, TO D.C. WE'RE HERE; OUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD WE WANT MORE TIME WITH OUR LOVED ONES.

THIS DRUG MUST BE APPROVED.

IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST DRUGS THAT HASN'T BEEN FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICAID.

AND PROVIDES THAT BECOMES HEALTH EQUITY.

WHO CAN AFFORD IT IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT YOU CAN'T GET THE TREATMENT.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THERE ARE NO CURES.

>> NO.

>> THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EARLY DETECTION TO GET THE MEDS TO SLOW DOWN.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORMS OF DEMENTIA.

BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, ALZHEIMER'S, BUT WITH THE RECENT BRUCE WILLIS DIAGNOSIS, FTD, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TYPES OF DEMENTIA?

>> WE'D LIKE TO CALL DEMENTIA AS AN UMBRELLA TERM.

SO THERE'S FOUR MAIN TYPES BUT THERE'S OVER 100 DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEMENTIA.

BUT THE FOUR MAIN TYPES ARE ALZHEIMER'S DEMENTIA, WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON.

FRONTAL TEMPORAL DEMENTIA, LOUIE BODY DEMENTIA AND VASCULAR DEMENTIA, THAT'S WHAT MY MOM HAS.

SO IT'S SORT OF AN UMBRELLA TERM.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO REALLY START THINKING ABOUT, PARTICULARLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, WITH THAT PREVALENCE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT CLINICAL TRIALS, BECAUSE THAT'S SO IMPORTANT, SOMETHING I LEARNED FROM BOTH OF YOU IS THE FACT THAT IF YOU ARE HEALTHY YOU CAN TAKE PART IN THESE CLINICAL TRIALS.

>> IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE DEMENTIA OR SEEM NORMAL AND HEALTHY AGING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE WHAT THE BRAIN LOOKS LIKE HEALTHY WE CAN'T COMPARE IT.

AND WE ALSO NEED JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE DISEASE, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BRAIN AT ALL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF OUR LIVES.

>> AND THE CLINICAL TRIALS -- YOU HAVE THAT BIG BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.

IT'S THERE IN DOWNTOWN.

>> WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST CLINICAL TRIAL PROGRAM.

WE CONDUCTED OVER 110 STUDIES OVER THE PAST 14 YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN OPENED.

AND WE REALLY DO NEED THOSE CITIZEN SCIENTISTS IS WHAT WE CALL THEM AS THE FUTURE OF BREAKING AND CRACKING THESE DISEASES.

SO WE'D LIKE TO SAY IF YOU HAVE A BRAIN, WE HAVE A STUDY FOR YOU, BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HEALTHY CONTROLS.

>> AND BEFORE WE LEAVE, I DO NEED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE FACTS AND FIGURES REPORT.

THAT WAS JUST RELEASED.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME -- I'M READING THIS MORE THAN 6 MILLION AMERICANS ARE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S.

ONE IN THREE SENIORS DIES WITH ALZHEIMER'S OR ANOTHER DEMENTIA.

>> I THINK THE THING THAT WAS MOST SHOCKING FOR ME THERE'S NOW 90,000 CAREGIVERS IN THE STATE OF NEVADA WHICH JUMPED FROM 50% BUT THE NUMBERS DIDN'T.

SO EITHER PEOPLE AREN'T REPORTING IT OR PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THAT, THE DIAGNOSIS AND THEY'RE JUST BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

AND THAT'S AGAIN REALLY SCARY BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO THE $2.6 BILLION OF LOST INCOME IN THIS STATE AND ALSO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH HAS DECREASES, THEIR OWN PHYSICAL HEALTH DECREASES AND THAT TO ME IS THE BIGGEST CAREGIVING NUMBERS.

BUT YES WE'RE GROWING ONE IN FIVE WOMEN, ONE IN TEN WOMEN WILL HAVE ALZHEIMER'S.

WE KNOW IT AFFECTS THEM, A MINORITY POPULATIONS, A GREATER RATE.

WE ALSO KNOW WE'RE THE THIRD FASTEST GROWTH STATE IN THE NATION.

SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PREP OUT THERE WITH OUR PARTNERS AS THE CLEVELAND CLINIC AND GET OUT THERE AND SPREAD AWARENESS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE A FIGHT ON ALL LEVELS.

CAREGIVING, OURSELVES, THOSE WITH DEMENTIA, OUR BUSINESSES THAT WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE REALLY NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND RAISE AWARENESS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BOTH OF YOU.

BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU WE HAVE A SPECIAL STORY ABOUT VETERANS HELPING VETERANS.

ON A RECENT TRIP TO LAUGHLIN, WE MET UP WITH THE TALENTED MEMBERS OF VETERANS IN MOTION, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HELPING OUR VETERANS THROUGH MUSIC THERAPY.

>> WHY DON'T WE DO ALOHA LOUIE.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

>> INSIDE AN OLD SCHOOL BUILDING IN BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZONA YOU'LL HEAR THE SOUNDS OF UKULELES.

STRUMMING THOSE UKULELE STRINGS YOU'LL FIND VETERANS.

>> I WAS IN THE ARMY.

>> WIDOWS.

>> HE WAS IN THE KOREAN WAR THAT'S WHERE HE GOT THE PURPLE HEART.

>> AND LOVED ONES OF VETERANS WHO HAVE PROUDLY SERVED OUR COUNTRY.

>> MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS A VETERAN.

HE SERVED DURING THE WORLD WAR, THE SECOND.

>> I AM THE DAUGHTER OF THE MILITARY MAN WHO WAS IN THE NAVY IN KOREA.

>> THE TALENTED PERFORMERS MAKE UP VETERANS IN MOTION UKULELE GROUP.

>> I SUPPORT THE VETERANS AND I APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

[MUSIC] >> IT'S BEEN SAID THAT MUSIC IS THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.

[MUSIC] >> AND THAT MUSIC ALSO HELPS US HEAL.

>> IT RELEASES STRESS.

>> OTHER GROUPS NOW HAVE BEEN WRITING THAT MUSIC WILL HELP POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN VETERANS AND SO I SAID, WELL, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING, NANCY.

>> HELPING VETERANS, ESPECIALLY COMBAT VETERANS, HEAL THROUGH MUSIC THERAPY, ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY BOB HORN, A PROUD VETERAN WHO SERVED DURING THE KOREAN WAR -- >> THE NAVAL AIR FORCE, UH-HUH.

>> AND AN ENTERTAINER AT HEART.

>> YANKEE DOODLE, DO OR DIE.

>> ALONG WITH HIS EQUALLY TALENTED WIFE, NANCY, STARTED THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION VETERANS IN MOTION IN 2021.

FASHIONED AFTER ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR PROGRAMS IN PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA.

>> I KNEW WHAT MUSIC COULD DO FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PEOPLE.

IT OPENS UP THE BRAIN AND GIVES YOU A LOT OF HAPPINESS.

>> AND IF YOU NEEDED ANOTHER REASON TO ADMIRE THIS HAPPY COUPLE, HERE YOU GO.

>> SHE'S 81.

AND I'M 91 GOING ON 92 IN A 49-YEAR-OLD HEAD, THOUGH.

>> THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF VETERANS DOESN'T END WHEN THERAPY SESSIONS ARE OVER.

[MUSIC] [APPLAUSE] >> WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT NEED TRANSPORTATION AROUND HERE.

TO THE DOCTORS AND THE VA, ET CETERA.

THE IDEA OF A VAN OF US GETTING A VAN CAME UP.

AND EVENTUALLY THE COUNTY APPROVED THE GRANT FOR US TO BUY A VAN WITH A WHEELCHAIR LIFT.

>> THE VETERANS IN MOTION VAN TRANSPORTS VETERANS TO THEIR DOCTORS' APPOINTMENTS AND NOT JUST IN BULLHEAD CITY, BUT SURROUNDING AREAS AS WELL, INCLUDING KINGMAN, LAKE HAVASU AND LAUGHLIN.

EVEN MAKING TRIPS TO LAS VEGAS AND HENDERSON.

>> THEY'VE BEEN VERY GRATEFUL.

VERY GRATEFUL.

>> VETERANS IN MOTION VICE PRESIDENT KEN GOETZ SAYS IT'S AN HONOR TO HELP HIS FELLOW VETERANS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.

>> MOST OF THE VETERANS ACTUALLY WE'VE TRANSPORTED, ABOUT 50/50, MAYBE, ARE FINANCIALLY OKAY.

THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE OR SOMEONE TO TAKE THEM OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

>> WE WANT TO KEEP THE VETERANS MOVING.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE CALL IT VETERANS IN MOTION.

>> HELPING KEEP VETERANS MOVING AND HEALTHY AND ACTIVE.

>> GAVE ME ANOTHER LIFE.

>> THAT'S WHY THEY KEEP ADDING CLASSES, INCLUDING BAND.

>> AND -- >> HE'S GOING TO KICK ME OUT OF THE DANCE CLASS.

>> YOU HEARD RIGHT, THEY ALSO OFFER DANCE LESSONS.

>> PART OF IT IS A SOCIAL ELEMENT, AND I LIKE THE ELEMENT OF DANCING WITH A LADY AND HOLDING HANDS AND BEING CLOSE.

I KNOW WE'VE DONE SOME LINE DANCING, TOO, AND LINE DANCING IS OKAY, IT'S GOOD EXERCISE BUT NOTHING LIKE HOLDING A LADY IN YOUR ARMS.

>> AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE YOU'LL FIND 91-YEAR-OLD BOB TEACHING THOSE CLASSES.

>> AND THEN I SPIN YOU AROUND AND YOU COME BACK IN AND WE DO THE BASIC AGAIN.

[MUSIC] >> BOB HAS HIGH HOPES FOR VETERANS IN MOTION AND THAT INCLUDES BUILDING A COMMUNITY OUR VETERANS CAN PROUDLY CALL HOME.

AND, YES, IT WILL INCLUDE LOTS OF ENTERTAINMENT.

>> I'M WORKING ON GETTING SOME LAND FOR US TO PUT OUR BUILDING ON SO WE CAN PUT MUSIC IN THEATER AND HAVE MUSICAL THEATER HERE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

IT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.

[MUSIC] >> WORDS OF WISDOM.

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.

I DEFINITELY LEFT INSPIRED.

THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS AT VETERANS IN MOTION FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO HELP YOUR FELLOW VETERANS.

AND THANK YOU AT HOME FOR JOINING US FOR "NEVADA WEEK."

FOR ANY OF THE RESOURCES MENTIONED GO TO OUR WEBSITE, VEGASPBS.ORG/NEVADAWEEK.