2019 -- S 0856

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LC002367

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 7, 2019 TO BE "ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE

OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Coyne, Ruggerio, Lynch Prata, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: May 07, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder,

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tragically robs individuals of their memories and leads to progressive mental and physical

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impairments; and

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     WHEREAS, Someone develops Alzheimer's disease every 66 seconds; and

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     WHEREAS, There are no known treatments to prevent, cure, or even delay the onset or

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slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease; and

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     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is on the rise with over 5.8 million Americans aged 65

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and over living with the disease and another 200,000 people under age 65 having younger-onset

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Alzheimer's disease; and

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     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death, more than breast and

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prostate cancer combined, and the fifth leading cause among the elderly; and

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     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is an unrelenting, progressive condition that destroys

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brain cells. Alzheimer's places significant financial burdens on families and businesses with

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businesses losing billions a year in lost productivity and replacement expenses for employees

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who miss work or quit to care for a relative; and

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     WHEREAS, According to the Alzheimer's Association's Facts and Figures report, the

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direct costs of caring for those with Alzheimer's to American society in 2019 is estimated to be

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$290 billion with more than 16 million caregivers providing over 18.5 billion hours of unpaid

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care for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias. In Rhode Island, in 2018, nearly 53,000

 

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family members and friends cared for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias, providing 61

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million hours of unpaid care, with the annual value of this caregiving totaling $769 million; and

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     WHEREAS, The impact of Alzheimer's and other dementias on Rhode Island families,

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the health care system, and society as a whole is of great importance; and the need for home and

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community-based services for those with Alzheimer's is on the rise and caregiver stress is at an

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all-time high; and

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     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a looming public health crisis and there is a need for

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all policy makers to join in the efforts to raise awareness and to serve the hundreds of thousands

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of persons with Alzheimer's and other dementias in Rhode Island, their families, and caregivers;

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and

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     WHEREAS, The mission of the Alzheimer's Association is to eliminate Alzheimer's

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disease and other dementias through the advancement of research and promotion of brain health

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and to enhance care and support for all individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families

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and caregivers; and

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     WHEREAS, On May 7, 2019, Alzheimer's advocates will speak up for the needs and

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rights of people with Alzheimer's and their families in order to make Alzheimer's disease a

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priority public health issue in the State of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby recognizes the individuals, families, friends, and caregivers dealing with Alzheimer's

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disease, the researchers who are seeking a cause or cure, and the efforts of the Alzheimer's

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Association to raise funds and promote awareness in order to fight Alzheimer's and other

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dementias, thereby improving the quality of human life for those living with Alzheimer's and

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their caregivers; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby commends the Rhode Island Chapter of the

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Alzheimer's Association for the outstanding job they are doing to fight this terrible disease and to

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advocate for those living with the disease, and furthermore proclaims May 7, 2019, to be

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"Alzheimer's Awareness Day" in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Jacqueline Waldon, CPA, President,

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Rhode Island Chapter, Alzheimer's Association.

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LC002367

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