COEUR d’ALENE — When Dr. Tom Trail was 4 years old, his grandfather taught him how to carve a whistle out of a willow twig.

"I know many of you think back to your earlier days, and it just excited you if you were 4 or 5," Trail said.

Trail's grandfather's ability to interact with his grandson faded as his mind was overpowered.

"My grandfather had dementia for some time, and very seldom in his last several years talked to anyone," Trail said. "When I was 10 years old, I discovered a secret that opened up, at least for a very short period of time, communication with my grandfather."

He used the willow twig as a tool to break through the disease that had stolen his grandpa's mind and memory.

"I took it up to my grandfather and asked him if he would carve a whistle for me and his face lit up and he said, ‘Yes,’ and immediately, for about a 10-minute period, carved the whistle out, tested it out," Trail said. "That was my entrée into communication with him."

The former state legislator and now Idaho state president of the AARP shared his personal connection to Alzheimer's and dementia during an Alzheimer's public policy town hall Wednesday at Lake City Center. About 20 people attended to learn about the plans for Alzheimer's on the local and federal level, what the future holds for a population that will soon significantly increase in Alzheimer's patients, and to hear stories from others like Trail who have experienced the heartbreaking condition firsthand.

"There is no more meaningful way for you to move our cause forward than by sharing your personal stories with elected officials at all levels of government," said Bob Le Roy, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association Washington State Chapter, which also serves North Idaho. "Lift your voices up, speak out, speak up and help us move these very important issues forward both at the federal level and here in Idaho."

Le Roy discussed the federal and state plans for Alzheimer's, which include prevention and effective treatment by 2025; securing more federal funding; improving access to information; improving education of care providers; increasing family support; reforming regulatory/financial burdens for providers; and improving data collection.

"The experts tell us that to continue to move Alzheimer's research forward at a pace that gives us a chance to achieve that goal of effective treatment and prevention by 2025, we need about $2 billion a year focused on Alzheimer's research," he said.

For the current year, about $991 million is going through the National Institutes of Health for Alzheimer's research, he said, "and this is a significant increase. Three years ago it was less than $600 million."

Le Roy said the Alzheimer's Association is asking the government for an additional $400 million; so far, the request was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee but the House of Representatives approved $350 million.

"We're hopeful that if and when Congress moves past the 60-day temporary continuing resolutions and settles on a final budget for the current federal fiscal year, that that $400 million increase will be a part of the budget," he said.

North Idaho Memory Clinic Director Dr. Susan Melchiore and longtime Alzheimer's Association volunteer and ambassador Katie Mans also spoke at the town hall meeting.

"I am keenly aware of this tidal wave of seniors coming our way," Melchiore said. "Every day, 8,000-10,000 Americans turn 65. This trend of aging baby boomers is expected to continue every day for the next 15 years. And the reason this is important to dementia is because age is a risk factor itself for Alzheimer's disease."

The Alzheimer's Association will hold a workshop about how to have honest, caring conversations with family members about doctor visits, financial plans and more at the Hayden Library from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 19.

Information: 666-2996 ext. 8314, www.alz.org or 1-800-272-3900