PRINTER'S NO. 3989

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

904

Session of

2020

INTRODUCED BY KLUNK, ROZZI, MILLARD, SCHMITT, HICKERNELL,

SCHLEGEL CULVER, PICKETT, BIZZARRO, RYAN, FEE, LONGIETTI,

KINSEY, JAMES, FREEMAN, OWLETT, NEILSON, MACKENZIE, KIRKLAND,

Brain Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, June is "Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Awareness

Month" and the Alzheimer's Association seeks support to raise

awareness of this debilitating disease and the need to increase

efforts to combat its human and economic costs in addition to

the public health burden throughout this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The Alzheimer's Association calls the summer

solstice on June 20 "The Longest Day" to promote teams coming

together around the world for a day of activity and advocacy

honoring the strength, passion and endurance of individuals

of all ages are living with Alzheimer's disease, including

200,000 under 65 years of age who have younger-onset Alzheimer's

disease, and more than 280,000 Pennsylvanians who are at least

65 years of age living with the disease; and

WHEREAS, Barring the development of medical breakthroughs,

the number of people who are at least 65 years of age with

Alzheimer's disease may nearly triple to nearly 14 million by

2050; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of

death in the United States and in Pennsylvania, and nearly one

WHEREAS, In 2019, Pennsylvania had an estimated 677,000

Alzheimer's disease and dementia family caregivers providing 771

million hours of unpaid care valued at more than $10.1 billion;

and

WHEREAS, Individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia

require more support and resources as cognitive, behavioral and

physical functioning worsens over time, placing enormous burdens

on government budgets and out-of-pocket expenses; and

WHEREAS, The lifetime cost of care for individuals with

dementia nearly doubles that of those without dementia; and

WHEREAS, Since the Alzheimer's disease and dementia continuum

spans decades, it provides many opportunities to model public

health approaches to change outcomes, expand early detection and

diagnosis and improve safety and quality of care for people

living with cognitive impairment, all while attending to the

caregiver's health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, Eighty-two percent of seniors say it is important to

have their thinking or memory checked by their primary care

doctor, but only 16% of seniors report receiving regular

cognitive assessments; and

public health interventions that could one day bring about a

world without Alzheimer's disease; and

WHEREAS, The individuals, families, friends, caregivers

dealing with Alzheimer's disease and the researchers who are

seeking a cause or cure should be recognized; and

WHEREAS, The efforts of the Alzheimer's Association to raise

funds and promote awareness to fight Alzheimer's disease and

other dementias improve the quality of human life for

individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and their

caregivers; therefore be it

disease's prevalence, the House of Representatives recognize

Alzheimer's disease as a public health crisis for which early

detection and diagnosis is paramount; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Pennsylvanians be encouraged to wear purple

throughout the month of June in support of family and friends

living with the disease and participate in "The Longest Day"

activities.