New Jersey Splits Over Future Of National Alzheimer's Association

By David Madden

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The national Alzheimer's Association is consolidating operations across the country, prompting local chapters to decide whether to remain part of the network. In New Jersey, two chapters are taking separate paths.

South Jersey's Delaware Valley Chapter, which includes Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware,  will retain its affiliation, even though it will cede much of its local control in the process.

CEO Wendy Campbell says her board of directors took several months to come to that decision. "There was a lot of research. A lot of really looking at finances and looking at how difficult some of the services might be to replicate," Campbell told KYW Newsradio, "and they decided it was better for us to be able to continue serving our families through merging with national."

North Jersey is going solo, in large part, to retain control over how its funds are spent. New York and San Diego have made similar decisions. As for the greater Philadelphia area, Campbell says "There will no longer be a Delaware Valley Chapter as a separate corporation. It will be one corporation. Our board will not have fiduciary responsibility for the area anymore."

But they'll continue to provide services and coordinate local fundraisers, including the annual Alzheimer's Walk. And should someone call the national hotline for help from anywhere in New Jersey, that call will go to Campbell's group at 800-272-3900. They can also make use of the national Association's website at www.alz.org.

The North Jersey chapter, now called Alzheimer's New Jersey, can be reached at 888-280-6055 or online at www.alznj.org.