SCR97

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that 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 28,000 people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease living in Hawaii today; and

WHEREAS, the number of individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease in Hawaii is projected to increase to 35,000 people by 2025; and

WHEREAS, the Alzheimer's Association estimated that Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia cost people in the United States a combined $277 billion in 2018; and

WHEREAS, no cure is currently available for Alzheimer's disease, and the approximate cost of care for a person living with Alzheimer's is $341,840; 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, an early and accurate diagnosis could save up to $7.9 trillion in medical costs; and

WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan designated November as Alzheimer's Awareness Month nationally in 1983; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature further finds that 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 declared as "Alzheimer's Awareness Month" to recognize the individuals and their families suffering from Alzheimer's disease; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the month of June is declared "Alzheimer's and Dementia Awareness Month" to encourage residents to learn more about Alzheimer's disease and related ailments and to 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 June 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 the Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Alzheimer's Disease; Designated Month

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	97
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII