Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 94 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to declare April 9 as "Safe Return Day" for individuals with Alzheimer's disease in Hawaii.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter, a member of its Board of Directors, and one concerned citizen. The President of the Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter, spoke in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that there are about 20,000 people in Hawaii who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative brain disease that affects memory and mental abilities. Because the leading risk factor in Alzheimer's disease is age, Hawaii, with the fastest graying population in the nation, will have to deal with the increasing numbers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and associated impacts on public health and welfare.

Your Committee further finds that the Safe Return Program offered by the Alzheimer's Association facilitates the safe and timely return of individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other related conditions who become disoriented and wander away from their home or community.

Your Committee finds that declaring April 9 as "Safe Return Day" will help to raise public awareness about Alzheimer's disease and the Safe Return program. Your Committee encourages law enforcement, public safety, emergency medical, and public transit personnel, and other interested individuals to incorporate the free specialized training offered by the Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter, to help front-line personnel recognize and appropriately deal with individuals with Alzheimer's disease in the community, into existing training programs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by requiring that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be sent to senior centers in each county (through the Area Agencies on Aging) and the Hawaii Primary Care Association.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 94, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 94, S.D. 1.