PRINTER'S NO. 2876
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
612
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY SAMUELSON, MURT, KORTZ, BERNSTINE, BIZZARRO,
BOBACK, BROWN, BURNS, T. DAVIS, DEASY, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO,
EVERETT, HEFFLEY, HENNESSEY, HILL-EVANS, HOWARD, JAMES,
JOHNSON-HARRELL, JONES, KAUFFMAN, KINSEY, LONGIETTI,
MACKENZIE, MALAGARI, McCLINTON, McNEILL, MILLARD, B. MILLER,
NEILSON, PICKETT, PYLE, RYAN, SAINATO, SAYLOR, SCHLOSSBERG,
SCHMITT, SCHROEDER, SONNEY, STAATS, THOMAS, YOUNGBLOOD AND
ZIMMERMAN, NOVEMBER 15, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of November 2019 as "National Alzheimer's
Disease Awareness and Family Caregivers Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible degenerative
brain disorder that, as yet, cannot be prevented, slowed or
cured; and
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's robs its victims of their memories and
their ability to walk, talk and perform everyday tasks, which
impacts their ability to live independently; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 5.8 million Americans have been
diagnosed with Alzheimer's or a related disorder, and an
estimated 200,000 of those Americans are under 65 years of age;
and
WHEREAS, Unless a cure is found, more than 14 million
Americans will have the disease by 2050; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in
the United States, where 4,213 Pennsylvanians died from
Alzheimer's in 2017; and
WHEREAS, This year marks the third year that the total
payments for caring for individuals living with Alzheimer's or
related disorders exceeded a quarter of a trillion dollars at
$290 billion; and
WHEREAS, More than 400,000 of our fellow Pennsylvanians are
suffering from Alzheimer's or a related disorder and many of
these individuals are being cared for, at home, by family and
close friends; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania alone, more than 676,000 of these
unpaid informal caregivers provided an estimated 770 million
hours of care which was valued at more than $9.7 billion in
2018; and
WHEREAS, While unpaid caregivers say they take on the task
out of love and find the work rewarding, the stress of
caregiving puts a strain on the caregiver's health, well-being
and finances as many of those caregivers are forced to leave
their jobs to care for a loved one; and
WHEREAS, Seventy percent of total lifetime costs of caring
for an individual living with Alzheimer's or a related disorder
is borne by family members; and
WHEREAS, Until there is a cure for Alzheimer's, we need the
best caregiving and caregiver support; and
WHEREAS, The Alzheimer's Association's Greater Pennsylvania
Chapter and Delaware Valley Chapter, through dedicated staff and
volunteers, provide support and education to assist informal
caregivers and fund research to prevent, treat and eventually
conquer this disease; and
20190HR0612PN2876 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
WHEREAS, The Alzheimer's Association's Greater Pennsylvania
Chapter and Delaware Valley Chapter, through dedicated staff and
volunteers, organize the world's largest event to raise
awareness and money for Alzheimer's research, care and support
with walks taking place in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Erie, State College and more; and
WHEREAS, The Alzheimer's Association supports competency-
based dementia training across the continuum of care, including
public safety personnel, as a way to enhance the well-being of
care partners and recipients alike; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of November 2018 as "National Alzheimer's Disease
Awareness and Family Caregivers Month" in Pennsylvania; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That this resolution seek to help raise awareness
of Alzheimer's and related disorders so that individuals and
their families and loved ones are comfortable in talking with
their doctors about early warning signs of Alzheimer's and
related disorders; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commonwealth recognize the challenges
facing those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or related
disorders, and it is the Commonwealth's wish for them to know
that they are not alone in their journey; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commonwealth acknowledge the dedication
and unconditional love our unpaid caregivers display every day
as they care for individuals who have been diagnosed with
Alzheimer's or related disorders.
20190HR0612PN2876 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27