| R 171 |
| 2025 -- H 6115 Enacted 03/20/2025 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MARCH 20, 2025, TO BE "ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, McNamara, Chippendale, Serpa, Finkelman, Fogarty, Corvese, and Casey |
| Date Introduced: March 20, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disease, and the most common |
| form of dementia that results in loss of memory and other cognitive function, and eventually |
| death; and |
| WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United |
| States and the fifth leading cause of death for persons aged 65 and over; and |
| WHEREAS, It is estimated that one in three seniors dies from Alzheimer's disease or |
| another dementia, more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined; and |
| WHEREAS, An estimated 7 million people in the United States are living with |
| Alzheimer's disease, and this number is anticipated to increase to 12.7 million by 2050; and |
| WHEREAS, The direct costs to the United States caring for individuals living with |
| Alzheimer's disease in 2024 was estimated to be $360 billion, increasing to nearly $1 trillion by |
| 2050, making it the most expensive disease in America; and |
| WHEREAS, More than 24,000 Rhode Islanders are living with Alzheimer's disease, and |
| an estimated 36,000 family caregivers provide approximately 51 million hours of unpaid care |
| valued at more than $1.1 billion; and |
| WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the fifth leading cause of death in Rhode Island for |
| persons 65 years of age or older; and |
| WHEREAS, Older Black Americans face nearly 2 times, and Latino Americans face |
| nearly 1.5 times higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island's per capita Medicare spending on people with dementia is |
| $30,782, and Rhode Island's Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer's disease is |
| nearly $500 million; and |
| WHEREAS, Caregiving for individuals with Alzheimer's disease often takes an |
| enormous toll on family members; caregivers themselves often suffer more stress, depression, and |
| health problems than caregivers of people with other illnesses; and |
| WHEREAS, An increasing number of individuals are developing younger-onset |
| Alzheimer's disease, a form of the disease that occurs prior to age 65 and can be particularly |
| difficult on family dynamics and economics due to its early occurrence; and |
| WHEREAS, As the population of older adults in Rhode Island continues to grow, there |
| will be an increased demand for residential, home-based, and community-based services that will |
| in turn mean an increased demand for direct care workers, including home health aides, certified |
| nursing assistants, and personal care aides; and |
| WHEREAS, Advocates are visiting the State House today, to raise awareness and inform |
| legislators of the challenges they face navigating Alzheimer's and all other dementias; now, |
| therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims March 20, 2025, as "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 Donna McGowan, Executive Director, |
| Alzheimer's Association, Rhode Island Chapter. |
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| LC002427 |
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