PRINTER'S NO. 1901
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
357
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY KLUNK, SCHMITT, BURNS, BIZZARRO, FEE, MEHAFFIE,
SOLOMON, KAUFFMAN, STAATS, DiGIROLAMO, SONNEY, HILL-EVANS,
DONATUCCI, MILLARD, KORTZ, PICKETT, PASHINSKI, RYAN,
OBERLANDER, HICKERNELL, BERNSTINE, MACKENZIE, DeLUCA,
LONGIETTI, HELM, JAMES, NEILSON, READSHAW, THOMAS, EVERETT,
SAINATO, DEASY, FREEMAN, PYLE, YOUNGBLOOD, ZIMMERMAN,
CALTAGIRONE, B. MILLER, MARKOSEK, MOUL AND GAYDOS,
MAY 29, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 29, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of June 2019 as "Alzheimer's and Brain
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, June is "Alzheimer's 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 21 "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
facing Alzheimer's disease in keeping with the slogan "The day
with the most light is the day we fight"; and
WHEREAS, Every individual in our communities is at risk for
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developing Alzheimer's disease, a fatal disease that cannot be
prevented, treated or even slowed; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that 5.8 million Americans 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
in three seniors dies from Alzheimer's disease or another
dementia; and
WHEREAS, During 2018 in the United States, more than 16
million family members and friends provided 18.5 billion hours
of unpaid care to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias, which care is valued at an estimated $234 billion;
and
WHEREAS, In 2018, Pennsylvania had an estimated 676,000
Alzheimer's disease and dementia family caregivers providing 770
million hours of unpaid care valued at more than $9.732 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
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WHEREAS, In 2019, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
will cost the nation $290 billion in total payments for health
care and long-term care, and hospice care is expected to reach
more than $1.1 trillion by 2050; 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
WHEREAS, This reporting underscores the need for older adults
and doctors to proactively discuss cognitive health during
routine exams that could lead to early diagnosis and promote
better care planning and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, Researchers in Pennsylvania and around the world
continue their efforts to develop scientific breakthroughs in
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
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of June 2019 as "Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Awareness
Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That, in an effort to raise awareness about the
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.
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