PRINTER'S NO. 1397
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
308
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY KORTZ, WATSON, SAMUELSON, BISHOP, QUIGLEY,
BENNINGHOFF, M. K. KELLER, DONATUCCI, CALTAGIRONE, VEREB,
HELM, ROSS, GODSHALL, BROWNLEE, DiGIROLAMO, KILLION,
McCARTER, KOTIK, HARHART, SAINATO, KLUNK, BAKER, MURT,
BIZZARRO, READSHAW, THOMAS, CONKLIN, YOUNGBLOOD, MILLARD,
MACKENZIE, V. BROWN, ROZZI, KIM, LONGIETTI, COHEN, KIRKLAND,
KAUFFMAN, MUSTIO, KINSEY, A. HARRIS, BOBACK, SONNEY, DUSH,
WHEELAND, D. COSTA, FARINA, MAJOR, SCHWEYER, HARKINS,
GIBBONS, DeLUCA, MOUL, HENNESSEY, O'NEILL, MAHONEY, GOODMAN,
MARSICO, FEE, PAYNE, ACOSTA, MENTZER, OBERLANDER, DRISCOLL,
D. PARKER, STAATS, IRVIN, BURNS, FRANKEL, PICKETT, P. DALEY,
M. DALEY, ENGLISH, DAVIS, SCHREIBER, McNEILL, B. MILLER,
RAVENSTAHL, GERGELY, EVERETT, SAYLOR, MATZIE, ELLIS, KAVULICH
AND SCHLEGEL CULVER, MAY 4, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MAY 4, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating May 5, 2015, as "Alzheimer's Awareness Action Day"
in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible degenerative
brain disorder affecting more than 5.3 million Americans; and
WHEREAS, Of the 5.3 million Americans that have the disease,
an estimated 5.1 million are 65 years of age or older and
approximately 200,000 are under 65 years of age; and
WHEREAS, Every 67 seconds, someone in the United States
develops the disease and by 2050, the diagnosis rate will
increase to every 33 seconds; and
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease slowly destroys memory and other
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cognitive abilities and eventually destroys the ability to carry
out simple tasks; and
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disease, as
dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years; and
WHEREAS, Although current treatments cannot stop the disease
from progressing, the treatments can temporarily slow the
worsening of dementia symptoms and improve the quality of life
for those that have the disease and their caregivers; and
WHEREAS, People that have Alzheimer's disease or related
disorders become increasingly reliant on caregivers throughout
the course of the disease; and
WHEREAS, Last year, 671,000 Pennsylvanians provided more than
765 million hours of unpaid care to a family member or loved one
that had Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, saving the
Commonwealth more than $9 billion in care costs; and
WHEREAS, The tragic personal toll and associated financial
costs of the disease are expected to increase as the average age
of the population of this Commonwealth continues to rise; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Alzheimer's Disease State Planning
Committee was created in 2013 to develop a State plan to address
this growing epidemic; and
WHEREAS, The committee finalized its report in early 2014,
recommending improving awareness, providing a continuum of care,
enhancing support for caregivers, supporting research and
promoting brain health and cognitive fitness; and
WHEREAS, Many factors associated with the risk of
cardiovascular disease are also associated with a higher risk of
developing Alzheimer's disease, including family history,
stress, smoking, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and
hypertension; and
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WHEREAS, Research suggests that heart health and brain health
are connected and the best defense against the disease is
further public education efforts focused on healthy aging,
including eating well, exercising both mind and body and
remaining socially active; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate May 5,
2015, as "Alzheimer's Awareness Action Day" in Pennsylvania to
raise awareness in this Commonwealth of Alzheimer's disease and
related disorders.
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