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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A NEW REPORT FINDS THAT ARIZONA IS LOSING OUT ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF STATE LAND TRUST FUNDING FOR EDUCATION.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE BLACK CHAMBER OF ARIZONA RELEASES AN ECONOMIC REPORT THAT SHOWS GROWTH FOR LOCAL BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.

>>> A NEW MEDICAL PRACTICE CHANGING THE WAY FAMILIES FACE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

A NEW REPORT BY COMMON SENSE INSTITUTE ARIZONA SHOWS THAT ARIZONA'S LOST OUT ON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN EDUCATION FUNDING DUE TO MISMANAGEMENT OF THE STATE LAND TRUST.

THE FUND THAT INVOLVES 11 MILLION ACRES GRANTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT STATEHOOD IN 1912.

FOR MORE ON THIS, WE WELCOME LORENZO ROMERO, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FELLOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE, TED.

TED: THIS LOOKS AT STATE FUNDING THROUGH THE LAND TRUST.

WHAT DID YOU LOOK FOR, WHAT DID YOU FIND AND WE'LL DIVE INTO THAT?

>> GOOD TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF THE LAND TRUST.

WHEN ARIZONA BECAME A STATE IN 1912, BRINGING 11 MILLION ACRES OF LAND, AND 9 MILLION ACRES DEDICATED TO K-12 EDUCATION.

WE WERE GOING CREATE THE PERMANENT FUND THAT EXISTS TODAY AS WE HAVE LAND SALES ASSOCIATED WITH THE K-12 PARCELS THEY ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE ENDOWMENT FUND AND THAT'S MANAGED AT TREASURER'S OFFICE.

SINCE 1912, WE HAD NINE MILLION ACRES DEDICATED TO K-12, WE'VE ONLY SOLD ONE MILLION AND LEAVING LOST OPPORTUNITY WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE.

OTHER STATE WHEN THEY ENTERED THE UNION AS A STATE, THEY IMMEDIATELY SOLD OFF THEIR LANDS, WE DIDN'T.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS STANDARD WHICH WE SELL LAND, WE HAVE TO STEL AT HIGHEST AND BEST USE.

THE MOST RESTRICTIVE STANDARD IN U.S.

HISTORY AND WE HAVE THE STANDARD IN SELLING LAND AND SO DOES NEW MEXICO.

TED: WHY DOES HIGHEST AND BEST USE EQUATE TO NOTHING GETTING DONE?

I WOULD THINK THERE IS GOOD USAGE OUT THERE?

>> YEAH, IN ORDER TO BE HIGHEST AND BEST USE, IT'S A SUBJECTIVE TEST.

AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THAT STANDARD, HAS TO BE FAIR MARKET VALUE, AND THAT IS BY APPRAISAL.

IN MANY CASES WHEN YOU SEE A LAND SALE TRADE.

MAYBE IT'S 90 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR OR 95 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR.

THE LAND DEPARTMENTS HAD TO BANK LAND AND SELLING LAND WELL ABOVE FAIR MARKET VALUE AND THE RESULTS OF ALL THAT, OVER 100 YEARS, ONLY SOLD A MILLION ACRES OF LAND.

AND THE DETRIMENT IS TO K-12 EDUCATION, AS YOU KNOW, WE RANK TOWARDS THE END OF PER PUPEL FUNDING.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF THE PERPUPIL FUNDING.

LAND TRUST PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT PART.

TED: WANT TO TALK ABOUT DISTRIBUTION MORE.

WE GOT 7 TO 8% COMPOUND INTEREST ANNUALLY HERE, A GOOD RETURN AND A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF IS RETURN HERE.

BUT THE MONEY THAT GOES TO EDUCATION, AND ESPECIALLY THROUGH PROP 123, THE DISTRIBUTION RATES WERE INCREASED, HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> AS WE SELL LAND, WE TAKE THE PROCEEDS OF THE LAND AND DEPOSIT IT INTO THE ENDOWMENT FUND AT THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

THE MORE LAND WE SELL, THE MORE COMPOUNDING INTEREST WE GET.

YOU MENTIONED PROP 123, THE DEBATE IS THIS, WE WANT TO GET MORE DOLLARS INTO K-12 EDUCATION.

HISTORICALLY THE DISTRIBUTION RATE HAS BEEN 2.5% OF WHAT'S IN THIS ENDOWMENT FUND.

UNDER DOUG DUCEY, HE PASSED WITH THE HELP OF THE LEGISLATION AND THE VOTERS PROP 123 WHICH INCREASED THE DISTRIBUTION RATE FROM 2.5% TO 6.9%.

PROP 123 HAS ALREADY EBBSPIRED, EXPIRED LAST SUMMER.

THE LEGISLATURE IS THINKING ABOUT RENEWING PROP 123.

PUTTING IN NEW MONEYS TO FUND K-12 EDUCATION BY HAVING A HIGHER DISTRIBUTION RATE.

TED: I THINK THE CURRENT GOVERNOR IS LOOKING AT 8 OR 9%?

>> YEAH, THERE'S A COUPLE COMPETING PROPOSALS WE HEARD AT THE LEGISLATURE.

IN JANUARY OF 2024, THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO INCREASE DISTRIBUTION RATE TO BE 8 TO 9%, FAR GREATER THAN IT WAS A LITTLE OVER 10 YEARS AGO, BACK TO 2 1/2.

WE'VE HAD LEGISLATORS AT THE LEGISLATURE WHERE THEY HAVE PROPOSED KEEPING THE DISTRIBUTION RATE AT ABOUT 6.9% FOR TEN YEARS, BUT EARMARKING ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTION OF $300 MILLION FOR TEACHER PAY, AND THERE ARE OTHER LEGISLATORS COMBINING TEACHER PAY WITH OTHER REFORM.

THERE ARE COMPETING PROPOSALS.

WE DON'T HAVE LEGISLATION YET.

LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL START NEXT MONTH AND HOPEFULLY GET A BILL.

>> THE LAND THAT IS NOT USED, IS THERE A VALUE ON THAT?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THINK ABOUT 8 MILLION ACRES, IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO A STATE, THAT'S THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA, THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WHAT ARE WE EARNING WITH THAT LAND?

ABOUT $80 MILLION.

THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THE GDP IS 100 MILLION.

IF WE CAN SELL MORE LAND AND GET IT TO COMPOUND THE TREASURY, THAT'S GOING TO LEAVE MORE MONEY FOR K-12 EDUCATION.

IF WE CELT REMAINING 8 MILLION ACRES, WE WILL SHIFT THE ENDOWMENT CLOSER TO 40 MILLION AND SHOULD HAVE 5 BILLION A YEAR.

THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND, THE GENERAL FUND IS ROUGHLY ABOUT 17 1/2 BILLION.

ABOUT 7 TO 8 BILLION IS IN K-12 EDUCATION.

THIS ALMOST COULD DOUBLE IT.

TED: OKAY, THIS WOULD ALSO MEAN SELLING A HECK OF A LOT OF LAND AS A ONE-TIME THING.

OBTAIN INTEREST ADDS AS YOU MENTIONED, THE MONEY WOULD BE THERE BUT SELLING THE LAND, HAVING THAT IN YOUR POCKET IS LONG GONE.

CRITICS WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS NOT WISE BECAUSE IT'S TOO MUCH OF A RUSH, TOO MUCH OF A HURRY, LET IT PLAY OUT.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> NO, FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, THEY DON'T.

SIMPLY SAID, TIME, VALUE AND MONEY MATTERS.

THE LONGER WE WAIT, TED, THE LONGER WE'RE GOING TO WAIT TO HELP FUND K-12 EDUCATION.

BY THE WAY, TED, WE DON'T HAVE TO LIQUIDATE IT ALL AT ONE TIME.

THE REPORT WE PRODUCE, IF WE RESPONSIBLY SOLD DOWN THE LANDS OVER THE NEXT DECADE, THESE ARE THE RESULTS WE COULD GET.

TED: WHY HASN'T IT HAPPENED?

YOU MENTIONED RESTRICTIONS AND REGULATIONS, IS THAT THE IDEA AND THE REPORT SUGGESTING EASE THOSE RESTRICTION SAYS IN GET RID OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS?

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> I WOULD SAY THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

FIRST AND FOREMOST IS ADJUST THE BEST AND HIGHEST USE STANDARD WITH COUNTERPARTS IN THE OTHER STATES AND PROVIDE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY SO THE STATE CAN DETERMINE HOW WANT ITS TO MANAGE ITS OWN LANDS RATHER THAN HAVING THE FEDERAL STANDARD OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

ANOTHER THING WE CAN DO, TED, WE CAN TREAT THE LAND AS AN ASSET.

INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN ISSUE HERE.

CAPITAL FACILITY INVESTMENT IS AN ISSUE HERE.

WE CAN BORROW AND USE THIS LAND AS BORROWING COLLATERAL AND CAN DRIVE DOWN INTEREST RATES TO DOING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

1, 2, 3% IS HUGE ON MULTIPLE BILLIONS OF PROJECTS.

>> CHANGING THIS INTO THE STANDARD, SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A TOUGH PROCESS HERE.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE STATE CONSTITUTION, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

TED: FEDERAL LAW, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

TED: STATE LAW, STATUTES?

CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

TED: THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE LEADERS LAST 100 YEARS, YOU HAD LEADERS THAT CREATED THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT THAT BROUGHT WATER, THAT COST A LOT OF MONEY, IT WAS COMPLETELY VITAL FOR THE STATE.

HOOVER DAM, VITAL TO THE STATE.

ALL WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS CHANGE WORDS IN THE DOCUMENT.

TED: IT INCLUDES A LOT OF YEARS OF PUSHING AND SHOVING TO GET THIS DONE.

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP, AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED AND AS FAR AS THE REPORT IS CONCERNED IN TERMS OF CHANGING THIS RESTRICTION AND GETTING IT IN FRONT OF VOTERS GOT TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO ISSUE WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP HERE?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST HAVE, TO COME OUT IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE ABOUT THE ISSUE, THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO HIGHLIGHT HERE.

TEACHER PAY IS A TOP PRIORITY.

HOW DO WE ADDRESS AND ADDRESS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO.

HOUSING IS A CRITICAL ISSUE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN ADDRESS HOUSING.

GROWING GDP IS A CRITICAL ISSUE.

WE'RE GOING INTO 2026, THIS IS GOING TO BE ELECTION CYCLE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

LET'S PUT THIS OUT AS A TOOL FOR PEOPLE TO USE AND POTENTIALLY WILL FOLLOW THROUGH OTHER STATES.

>> LAST QUESTION, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

IF WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION 30 YEARS AGO, THIS LAND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE NOW.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY?

IS THIS THE BEST TIME TO BE DOING THIS?

SHOULD WE WAIT?

SHOULD IT IS HAVE BEEN BETTER DONE YEARS AGO?

THE TIMING ASPECT OF ALL THIS?

>> SO GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.

WE WOULD HAVE DISTRIBUTED 140 BILLION MORE INTO K-12 EDUCATION BECAUSE COMPOUND INTEREST MATTERS.

SO THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, IT'S ABSOLUTELY TIME THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW.

TED: LORENZO ROMERO, APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: THE BLACK CHAMBER OF ARIZONA IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES RESOURCES AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS.

A NEW ECONOMIC REPORT SHOWS INCREASES IN NEW BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES LEADING TO SALES AND JOB CREATION.

DR.

VELMA TRAYHAM IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BLACK CHAMBER OF ARIZONA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: HAVE YOU GUYS DONE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT BEFORE?

>> THIS IS THE FIRST ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT IN THE 27-YEAR HISTORY OF THE BLACK CHAMBER OF ARIZONA.

TED: WHY IS IT TIME TO DO NOW?

>> WHEN I THINK HOW FAST THE STATE IS GROWING AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS GROWING NOT ONLY BLACK BUSINESSES BUT DIVERSE BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE, IF WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS WE'RE SOLVING, AND SO THAT LEDNY SEND OUT A SURVEY.

OUR TEAM CREATED A SURVEY TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE AND THE PROBLEMS THAT BUSINESS OWNERS ARE HAVING HERE IN ARIZONA, AND THAT'S WHAT LED TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE REPORT.

TED: NOW THE REPORT SAYS THERE IS AN INCREASE IN SALES.

1200 BUSINESSES LAUNCHED.

JOBS CREATION IS A BIG FACTOR, ISN'T IT?

>> A HUGE FACTOR, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PILLARS OF THE BLACK CHAMBER.

ONE IS JOB CREATION, CREATING MORE EMPLOYER FIRMS ACROSS THE STATE.

WHEN I THINK HOW DO WE CREATE MORE EMPLOYER FIRMS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY ACROSS THE STATE?

ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANY BLACK BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMING TO ARIZONA, THAT'S EXPANDING TO ARIZONA, THAT'S GROWING IN ARIZONA, IT'S BY WAY OF CONTRACTING.

SO ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC PILLARS IS ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND CONTRACTING REDDINESS.

IT'S ONE THING TO KNOW THAT PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLIER DIVERSITY EXIST BUS ANOTHER THING TO HAVE BUSINESSES UNDERSTAND HOW TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES SO THEY CAN GET ACCESS TO CONTRACTS.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

SEEMS LIKE 5 MILLION SECURED HERE.

THE BIG THING IS MAKING SURE THE SMALL, LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE READY FOR THAT CAPITAL AND KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT?

>> YEAH, MY PREDECESSOR, ROBIN REED, WHO I MISS DEARLY.

THAT WAS A HUGE THING FOR HIM, ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

I'LL TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER.

IT'S CAPITAL INTELLIGENCE, RIGHT?

A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN GET ACCESS TO CAPITAL, BUT IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT, HOW TO USE IT, TO GROW THE BUSINESS, THERE WILL NOT BE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THAT.

WE FOCUS ON CAPITAL INTELLIGENCE.

WE HAVE BANKING PARTNERS HELPING OUR BUSINESS OWNERS UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES A P AND L LOOK LIKE?

HOW TO HAVE AN OPERABLE CASH FLOW AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL.

TED: YOU REFER TO BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES AND MORE DIVERSE BUSINESSES MOVING TO ARIZONA.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT?

SEEMS LIKE WITH 1200 BUSINESSES LAUNCHED, SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS LAUNCHING SOMETHING SOMEWHERE, HUH?

>> WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF BUSINESSES.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

IN FACT, WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT ARE PART OF OUR MEMBERSHIP FROM CALIFORNIA, FROM OKLAHOMA, FROM TEXAS, FROM ARKANSAS.

ACTUALLY AN EVENT WE JUST HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, ON FRIDAY, A RIBBON-CUTTING, THERE WAS A COUPLE THAT FLEW HERE FROM OKLAHOMA, AND THEY HAVE A MEMBERSHIP WITH THE BLACK CHAMBER OF ARIZONA.

TED: INTERESTING.

THE PERSPECTIVE OF A BUSINESS OWNER AND ENTREPRENEUR FROM OKLAHOMA OR SOMEPLACE EAST, WEST, WHEREVER, WHEN THEY CONTACT YOU, WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THE BUSINESS CLIMATE HERE?

THE OVERALL CLIMATE HERE IN ARIZONA?

>> THINK ABOUT IT NOW, IT'S DECEMBER AND THE WEATHER IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

ARIZONA HAS BEAUTIFUL WEATHER THIS TIME OF YEAR.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMY ISSUE WHEN I THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES SUCH AS MANUFACTURING, WHEN I THINK ABOUT HEALTH CARE, WHEN I THINK ABOUT BANKING, TECHNOLOGY, THIS IS A HUB FOR GROWTH RIGHT NOW, AND SO PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO ARIZONA AT A VERY, VERY FAST PACE, BUT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ARE WE RETAINING PEOPLE HERE?

ARE WE RETAINING BLACK BUSINESSES.

I'VE HEARD, I'M NOT FROM ARIZONA, I WAS RECRUITED HERE, MY CONSULTING COMPANY WAS RECRUITED HERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE LEARNED IN THE FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.

PEOPLE COME AND GO WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE IS COMMUNITY.

WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND ARIZONACY PROMINENT STATE WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY.

SO NOW WE'RE DEVELOPING THE CULTURE AND THE ACCESS AND RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES TO SUSTAIN HERE.

NOT JUST COME AND GO, BUT TO ACTUALLY SUSTAIN.

TED: LAST QUESTION, WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THE REPORT?

WHAT DO YOU TAKE FROM THE SFLPT.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE REPORT, IT SHOWS THE GROWTH AMONG BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IN ARIZONA.

SHOWS THE BLACK BUYING POWER AND SHOWS THAT WHEN A BLACK BUSINESS GETS ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES, GET ACCESS TO RESOURCES, HOW THESE BLACK BUSINESSES ADD TO THE GDP, BY WAY OF CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND BECOMING MORE EMPLOYER FIRM.

THAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC IMPACT BY DRIVING MOBILITY IN THIS COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ACCESS.

TED: WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE ECONOMIC REPORT.

BEFORE YOU GO REAL QUICK, IS THERE A GALA?

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?

>> YEAH, OUR 27th ANNIVERSARY PINNACLE PATHWAYS GALA IS COMING UP, SATURDAY AT THE GLENDALE RENAISSANCE HOTEL.

WE'RE HONORING SEVEN SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE EMPLOYER FIRMED AND CORPORATE HONOREES ARE BANK OF AMERICA AND PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIRPORT.

THEY'RE ADDING TO THE ECONOMY BY WAY OF CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES SO THE BUSINESSES THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THESE CONTRACTS, AND THAT'S HELPING THESE BUSINESSES FULFILL THEIR PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLIER DIVERSITY GOALS.

TED: VERY GOOD, DR.

VELMA TRAYHAM, BLACK CHAMBER OF ARIZONA, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

.

TED: BRAIN LOVE IS A NEW MEDICAL PRACTICE THAT SERVES OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCING MEMORY CONCERNS, COGNITIVE DECLINE, ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER RELATED CONDITIONS, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT BRAIN LOVE AS PART OF AARP SPONSORED SEGMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES TO OLDER ADULTS.

JOINING US IS DR.

DANI CABRAL, FOUNDER OF BRAIN LOVE.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: GIVE ME A DEFINITION OF BRAIN LOVE.

>> CARE FOR ADULTS FACING COGNITIVE DECLINE, ALZHEIMER'S AND OTHER RELATED DISEASES, IT'S A HOLISTIC APPROACH.

WE LOOK AT MUCH MORE THAN THE COGNITION.

WE LOOK AT ALL DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HEALTH, THEIR LIFESTYLE, PSYCHO LOGIC, SPIRITUAL, RELATIONAL.

NOT ONLY TO WE CARE FOR PATIENT BUS CARE FOR THE CARE PARTNER'S MENTAL HEALTH.

TED: CARING FOR THE CARE PARTNER'S MENTAL HEALTH, I IMAGINE IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM HELPS THE PATIENT SENSE THIS.

DOES THE PATIENT SENSE THIS, FEEL THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN THE CARE PARTNER THRIVES, EVERYONE DOES.

THERE ARE SO MANY CARE PARTNERS IN ARIZONA, EVERYONE FACING THIS KNOWS IT.

CONVERSELY, WHEN THE CARE PARTNER IS STRUGGLING AND DEPRESSED AND SLEEP DEPRIVED AND NOT GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED, THE PERSON IS MORE DOWN, MORE AGITATED, STRUGGLING MORE, DECLINING FASTER, NOT GETTING OUT THERE IN THE WORLD, IT'S A VICIOUS DOWNWARD CYCLE.

TED: THIS IS PRETTY MUCH BUILT ON RELATIONSHIPS, TRUE?

>> TRUE.

EXACTLY.

TED: IS THIS -- IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THIS IS COMMONSENSICAL.

MAYBE IT IS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS?

>> EVERYONE WHO GOES THROUGH.

THIS SEVEN MILLION AMERICANS HAVE THESE DISEASES AND FAMILY MEMBERS EXPERIENCE THAT AND KNOWS IT, YET THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUALS.

WE'RE A VERY INDIVIDUALISTIC SOCIETY.

IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO TAKE CARE AND FOCUS ON THE CARE PARTNER AND THINK THAT HELPING THEM IS GOING TO HELP THEIR PERSON.

TED: SEEMS AS IF INDIVIDUALIZED CARE AND PERSONALIZED CARE WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

ARE YOU SAYING IT SAY GOOD THING AS LONG AS OTHER FACTORS INCLUDEED?

>> ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE PERSONALIZED.

BRAIN LOVE, WE LEARN ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL IN THEIR LIFE.

I ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS, I'M SO NOSY, BUT ALSO HELPING THE CARE PARTNER AND LEARNING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE AND WHAT WILL HELP THEM TO CONTRIBUTE HAVING SELF-CARE, BALANCE AND THE BIGGEST THING, TED, IS HELPING THE CARE PARTNER FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE PER MIG TO GO SEEK THAT CARE BECAUSE THEY OFTEN FEEL GUILTY ABOUT LEAVING THEIR PERSON TO DO ANYTHING, AND SO IT'S COMPLEX, YET JUST ASKING A CARE PARTNER HOW THEY'RE DOING MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> I IMAGINE THE STIGMA, THE ISOLATION OF ALZHEIMER'S.

THAT PLAYS A FACTOR, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT'S HUGE.

I DON'T USE THE WORD DEMENTIA BECAUSE IT'S SO STIGMATIZING.

THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, WHEN I SEE PEOPLE GET DIAGNOSED, THEIR LIVES CLOSE DOWN, THEY STOP DOING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND FAMILY MEMBERS DO.

SO WHAT WE DO AT BRAIN LOVE, WE GIVE HOPE.

WE SAY YES, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING AFTER A COMPLEX MEDICAL EVALUATION, WE GET CLARITY, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU TO ADAPT TO THAT?

TED: WHAT GOT YOU STARTED IN THIS?

>> I LOVE WORKING WITH OLDER ADULTS AND CONNECTED WITH THE GRIEF AND LOSS EXPERIENCED BY EVERYONE IN THIS SPACE IN THEIR OWN WAYS AND THERE'S SMALL LOSSES AND BIG LOSSES AND NO ONE WAS ACKNOWLEDGING IT.

I LIKE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE.

TED: YEAH, BUT WAS THERE AN AH-HAH MOMENT, ALL RIGHT, THIS IS IT.

WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING?

>> I JUST KEPT HEARING THE SAME THING FROM FAMILIES.

I'VE BEEN IN THE FIELD 20 YEARS, AND KEPT THINKING SOMETHING'S GOING TO CHANGE, GOING TO GET BETTER, WE'RE GOING TO OFFER A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH, AND REALLY THERE HAS BEEN ADVANCES IN DIAGNOSES, ABSOLUTELY.

TWO TREATMENTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED YET PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME GAPS IN CARE.

I SAID I HAVE THIS ONE PRECIOUS LIFE AND I'M GOING TO TRY THIS NEW MODEL OF CARE.

TED: WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE HAVE YOU HAD SO FAR?

>> PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT FEELING LIKE THEY HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVES AND IT'S NOT JUST ALL DECLINE.

IT'S NOT JUST ALL THIS, HOW MUCH WORSE AM I SIX MONTHS LATER, AND I TAKE THIS PILL AND GO ON WITH MY LIFE AND COME BACK SIX MONTHS LATER.

SO IT'S LIKE, NO, THERE IS SO MUCH YOU CAN DO, IT'S ALL ABOUT GIVING THEM THE TOOLS AND HELPING THEM TO FEEL THAT MOTIVATION TO CHANGE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE HOLISTIC ASPECT OF ALL THIS, MEDICINE PLAYS A PART HERE.

YOU ARE NOT RULING OUT MEDICINE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU ARE SAYING MEDICINE IS A PART OF THE WHOLE DEAL.

>> IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART.

STARTING MEDICATIONS, ALSO STOPPING MEDICATIONS THAT ARE IMPACTING THEIR COGNITION NEGATIVELY, AND I LOVE THE PHASE 3 CLINICAL TRIALS OF THE TWO DRUGS APPROVED, AND I ABSOLUTELY PRESCRIBE THOSE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE, AND I SUPPORT THEM AND I HAVE SEEN BENEFITS.

>> VERY GOOD.

WHERE DO PEOPLE LEARN MORE ABOUT BRAIN LOVE?

>> FIND US AT MYBRAINLOVE.COM, E-MAIL ME AND I OFFER FREE INFO CALLS WITH ME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PRACTICE.

TED: AND THE INFO CALLS LEAD UP TO THE ASSESSMENT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: DR.

DANI CABRAL, IT'S BRAIN LOVE, AND NICE TO HEAR ENCOURAGING THINGS -- I DON'T WANT USE DEMENTIA EITHER -- ABOUT COGNITIVE ISSUES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.