PRINTER'S NO. 848

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No.

129

Session of

2021

INTRODUCED BY COLLETT, SABATINA, BROWNE, BROOKS, J. WARD,

MARTIN, FONTANA, KEARNEY, HUGHES, BARTOLOTTA, PHILLIPS-HILL,

MUTH, MENSCH, VOGEL, CAPPELLETTI, YUDICHAK, STREET, COSTA,

Awareness Month," when 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 and its

public health burden throughout this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The summer solstice, June 20, 2021, 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, Alzheimer's disease can affect racial and ethnic

groups differently; and

WHEREAS, African Americans are twice as likely and Hispanics

are one and one-half times as likely to have Alzheimer's or

other dementias than Caucasian individuals; and

WHEREAS, Affected individuals may face unique challenges in

receiving care; and

WHEREAS, Barring the development of medical breakthroughs,

the number of people 65 years of age or older with Alzheimer's

disease may almost triple to nearly 14 million by 2050; and

Alzheimer's and other dementias; and

WHEREAS, That unpaid care had an estimated economic value of

$257 billion; and

WHEREAS, In 2020, Pennsylvania had an estimated 500,000

Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers providing 622 million hours

of unpaid care valued at more than $9.726 billion; and

WHEREAS, Persons with Alzheimer's and other dementias 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

the nation $355 billion; and

WHEREAS, 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

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 a

caregiver's health and well-being; and

WHEREAS, These discussions could lead to early diagnosis and

promote better care planning and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, Researchers in this Commonwealth 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 Alzheimer's Association, by raising funds and

"Alzheimer's Disease and Brain Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That, in an effort to raise awareness of the

disease's prevalence, the Senate:

that impacts everyone throughout this Commonwealth and that

early detection and diagnosis is paramount;

purple throughout the month of June in support of family and

friends living with the disease; and