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PRINTER'S NO. 1831
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
342
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY COLLETT, SABATINA, ARNOLD, MUTH, KILLION,
SANTARSIERO, FONTANA, FARNESE, ARGALL, DINNIMAN, BREWSTER,
BROWNE, J. WARD, SCAVELLO, STREET, COSTA, SCHWANK, MENSCH,
TARTAGLIONE AND PITTMAN, JUNE 30, 2020
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JUNE 30, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of June 2020 as "Alzheimer's and Brain
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The month of 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 summer solstice, June 20, 2020, has been
declared "The Longest Day," with teams around the world coming
together to honor the strength, passion and endurance of
individuals facing Alzheimer's disease with a day of activity
and advocacy to carry out the slogan "The Day With the Most
Light is the Day We Fight"; and
WHEREAS, Every individual in our communities is at risk for
developing Alzheimer's, a fatal disease that cannot be
prevented, treated or even slowed; and
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WHEREAS, It is estimated that more than 5 million Americans
of all ages are living with Alzheimer's, including 200,000
people under 65 years of age who have younger-onset Alzheimer's
in the United States, and more than 280,000 Pennsylvanians 65
years of age and older living with the disease; and
WHEREAS, Barring the development of medical breakthroughs,
the number of people 65 years of age or older with Alzheimer's
may almost triple to nearly 14 million people by 2050; and
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in
the United States and Pennsylvania, and one in three seniors
dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia; and
WHEREAS, During 2019 in the United States, more than 16
million Americans provided 18.6 billion hours of unpaid care to
individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementias and that care
had an estimated economic value of $244 billion; and
WHEREAS, In 2019, Pennsylvania had an estimated 677,000
Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers providing 770 million hours
of unpaid care valued at more than $10.1 billion; and
WHEREAS, Those with Alzheimer's 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 those with dementia is
nearly double the cost of care of those without dementia; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, Alzheimer's and other dementias will cost
the nation $305 billion, and total payments for health care,
long-term care and hospice care are expected to reach more than
$1.1 trillion by 2050; and
WHEREAS, Since the Alzheimer's and dementia continuum spans
decades, it provides many opportunities to model public health
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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 skills or memory checked by a primary care
doctor, but only 16% of seniors report receiving regular
cognitive assessments, underscoring 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 and
public health interventions that could one day bring about a
world without Alzheimer's disease; and
WHEREAS, The individuals, families, friends and 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
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of June 2020 as
"Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That, in an effort to raise more awareness about
the disease's prevalence, the Senate:
(1) recognize that Alzheimer's is a public health crisis
that impacts everyone throughout this Commonwealth and early
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detection and diagnosis is paramount;
(2) encourage Pennsylvanians to wear purple throughout
the month of June in support of family and friends living
with the disease; and
(3) encourage Pennsylvanians to participate in one of
the Alzheimer's Association "The Longest Day" local
activities.
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