R 148

2020 -- H 7950 Enacted 03/03/2020

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MARCH 3, 2020, TO BE "ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Ruggiero, Abney, and Ackerman

Date Introduced: March 03, 2020

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 65 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 5.8 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 in 2019 is estimated to be

$290 billion with more than 16 million caregivers providing over 18.5 billion hours of unpaid

care for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias. In Rhode Island, in 2018, 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 $769 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 March 3, 2020, 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 House of Representatives 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 House 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 March 3, 2020, 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. Jacqueline Waldon, CPA, President, Rhode

Island Chapter, Alzheimer's Association.

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LC004481

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