R 225

2018 -- S 2877 Enacted 05/08/2018

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 8, 2018 TO BE "ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Ruggerio, Metts, Algiere, and Lombardi

Date Introduced: May 08, 2018

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder,

tragically robs individuals of their memories and leads to progressive mental and physical

impairments; and

WHEREAS, Someone develops Alzheimer's disease every 66 seconds; and

WHEREAS, There are no known treatments to prevent, cure, or even delay the onset or

slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is on the rise with over 5 million Americans aged 65

and over living with the disease and another 200,000 people under age 65 having younger-onset

Alzheimer's disease; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death, more than breast and

prostate cancer combined, and the fifth leading cause among the elderly; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is an unrelenting, progressive condition that destroys

brain cells. Alzheimer's places significant financial burdens on families and businesses with

businesses losing billions a year in lost productivity and replacement expenses for employees

who miss work or quit to care for a relative; and

WHEREAS, According to the Alzheimer's Association's Facts and Figures report, the

direct costs of caring for those with Alzheimer's to American society is valued at $259 billion and

more than 15 million caregivers provided over 18 billion hours of unpaid care for those with

Alzheimer's and other dementias in 2016. In Rhode Island, nearly 53,000 family members and

friends cared for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias, providing 61 million hours of

unpaid care, with the annual value of this caregiving totaling $766 million; and

WHEREAS, The impact of Alzheimer's and other dementias on Rhode Island families,

the health care system, and society as a whole is of great importance; and the need for home and

community-based services for those with Alzheimer's is on the rise and caregiver stress is at an

all-time high; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a looming public health crisis and there is a need for

all policy makers to join in the efforts to raise awareness and to serve the hundreds of thousands

of persons with Alzheimer's and other dementias in Rhode Island, their families, and caregivers;

and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is to eliminate Alzheimer's

disease and other dementias through the advancement of research and promotion of brain health

and to enhance care and support for all individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families

and caregivers; and

WHEREAS, On May 8, 2018, Alzheimer's advocates will speak up for the needs and

rights of people with Alzheimer's and their families in order to make Alzheimer's disease a

priority public health issue in the State of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby recognizes the individuals, families, friends, and caregivers dealing with Alzheimer's

disease, the researchers who are seeking a cause or cure, and the efforts of the Alzheimer's

Association to raise funds and promote awareness in order to fight Alzheimer's and other

dementias, thereby improving the quality of human life for those living with Alzheimer's and

their caregivers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby commends the Rhode Island Chapter of the

Alzheimer's Association for the outstanding job they are doing to fight this terrible disease and to

advocate for those living with the disease, and furthermore proclaims May 8, 2018, to be

"Alzheimer's Awareness Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Donna McGowan, Executive Director,

Rhode Island Chapter, Alzheimer's Association.

========

LC004362

========