THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
97 |
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
DESIGNATING NOVEMBER AS ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA AWARENESS MONTH IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that causes a person to progressively lose their memory and overall cognitive function over time, robbing a person of their short-term and long-term memory and significantly impacting their loved ones; and
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for between 60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases; and
WHEREAS, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's or some form of dementia every 65 seconds; and
WHEREAS, there are currently 5.7 million people living with Alzheimer's in the United States, and the Alzheimer's Association projects that number to grow to 14 million by 2050; and
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, killing more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, with one out of three seniors dying from Alzheimer's disease according to the Alzheimer's Association; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that there are 27,000 people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease living in Hawaii today, a number that is expected to increase by more than 40 percent by 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Alzheimer's Association estimated that the cost of care for a person living with Alzheimer's disease is approximately $341,840 and Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia cost people in the United States a combined $277 billion in 2018; and
WHEREAS, although no cure is currently available for Alzheimer's disease, increased public awareness and an early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia may reduce the costs of care for a person living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia; and
WHEREAS, an early and accurate diagnosis could save up to $7.9 trillion in medical costs; and
WHEREAS, nearly nine percent of people age 45 and older report experiencing confusion or memory loss with increasing frequency or severity, and more than 60 percent of those reporting have not talked to a health care provider about these conditions; and
WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan designated November as Alzheimer's Awareness Month nationally in 1983; and
WHEREAS, the public should be encouraged to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the House of Representatives concurring, that the month of November is designated as Alzheimer's and Dementia Awareness Month to encourage residents to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and related ailments and acknowledge and thank the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter for providing access to resources and support to communities across Hawaii; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that designating November as Alzheimer's and Dementia Awareness Month will place individuals and their families on a path to managing disease-related challenges and encourage them to contact the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter to access resources and receive support for planning for the future and living well with Alzheimer's disease; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter.
Alzheimer's Disease; Designated Month