PRINTER'S NO. 4584
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1080
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY SAMUELSON, DAY, KORTZ, MADDEN, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
BIZZARRO, JAMES, McCLINTON, HILL-EVANS, LONGIETTI, BURNS,
BOBACK, McNEILL, RYAN, KINSEY, THOMAS, PICKETT, T. DAVIS,
BERNSTINE, MURT, GALLOWAY, ROWE, HOWARD, FREEMAN, ULLMAN,
BROWN, VITALI, ROTHMAN, SANCHEZ, DeLUCA, MILLARD, WILLIAMS,
WEBSTER, SCHLOSSBERG AND GREEN, OCTOBER 22, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 22, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of November 2020 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, More than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed
with Alzheimer's or other dementias, 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
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in
the United States, where 4,064 Pennsylvanians died from
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Alzheimer's in 2019; and
WHEREAS, This year marks the fifth year that the total
payments for caring for individuals living with Alzheimer's or
other dementias exceeded a quarter of a trillion dollars at $305
billion; and
WHEREAS, More than 400,000 of our fellow Pennsylvanians are
suffering from Alzheimer's or other dementias and many of these
individuals are being cared for, at home, by family and close
friends; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania alone, more than 677,000 of these
unpaid informal caregivers provided an estimated 771 million
hours of care which was valued at more than $10.1 billion in
2019; 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 another dementia is
borne by family members; and
WHEREAS, Until there is a cure for Alzheimer's and other
dementias, 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
WHEREAS, The Alzheimer's Association's Greater Pennsylvania
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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
direct care workers and 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 2020 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 other dementias so that individuals and their
families and loved ones are comfortable in talking with their
doctors about early warning signs of Alzheimer's and other
dementias; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Commonwealth recognize the challenges
facing those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other
dementias, 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 other dementias.
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