HR0590 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0590 LRB097 14116 KXB 58798 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, More than 35 million people are living with Alzheimer's and other dementia related diseases worldwide, with 5.4 million in the United States and 210,000 in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Someone develops Alzheimer's disease every 69 seconds; it is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States; and

WHEREAS, By 2050 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer's and someone will have developed the disease every 33 seconds, unless something is done to combat Alzheimer's; and

WHEREAS, Currently, 14.9 million family members and friends provide 17 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer's and other dementia related illnesses, care that is valued at $202.6 billion; and

WHEREAS, Costs to Medicaid are 9 times higher for a person with Alzheimer's than for a person without Alzheimer's in the same age group; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Alzheimer Legislators Alliance, a bipartisan alliance of State policy makers, is helping to make this devastating disease a top priority in daily policy making; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Alzheimer Legislators Alliance, working closely with the Alzheimer's Association and others, are raising awareness as to the impact Alzheimer's disease and related dementias have on Illinois individuals and families, communities, and the public health system; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the month of November as Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That citizens of the State of Illinois acknowledge the increased need for State involvement in raising awareness for Alzheimer's disease support, funding, and research as the disease impacts individuals and families across the State.