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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION |
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| INTRODUCED BY KORTZ, REICHLEY, READSHAW, BAKER, BARRAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROOKS, BURNS, BUXTON, CASORIO, CAUSER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, P. COSTA, CREIGHTON, CURRY, DALEY, DeLUCA, DePASQUALE, DERMODY, DONATUCCI, DRUCKER, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GERGELY, GIBBONS, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HANNA, HARHART, HARKINS, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, HOUGHTON, HUTCHINSON, KNOWLES, KOTIK, KULA, LEVDANSKY, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MATZIE, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MUNDY, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PYLE, REED, REESE, ROSS, SAINATO, SAMUELSON, SAYLOR, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, TURZAI, WALKO, WATSON, MARSHALL, PICKETT, KIRKLAND, MOUL, MARKOSEK, BOBACK, SCAVELLO, BEAR, FLECK AND GOODMAN, OCTOBER 9, 2009 |
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| INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 9, 2009 |
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| A RESOLUTION |
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1 | Designating the month of November 2009 as "Alzheimer's Disease |
2 | Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. |
3 | WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain |
4 | disorder, first identified in 1906 by Dr. Alois Alzheimer, |
5 | resulting in a dementia evidenced by a progressive loss of |
6 | memory and intellectual function, as well as changes in |
7 | personality and behavior; and |
8 | WHEREAS, According to U.S. News and World Report, a study |
9 | released by Alzheimer's Disease International estimates that |
10 | more than 35 million people worldwide are expected to have some |
11 | form of dementia in 2010 and that number is expected to double |
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1 | every 20 years; and |
2 | WHEREAS, While Alzheimer's disease is generally associated |
3 | with memory loss, its progression eventually leads to |
4 | difficulties with basic physical functions such as mobility or |
5 | swallowing, with death generally occurring between four and six |
6 | years after it is diagnosed; and |
7 | WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the fifth leading cause of |
8 | death in people 65 years of age and older and the sixth leading |
9 | cause of death in the United States overall; and |
10 | WHEREAS, According to the National Center for Health |
11 | Statistics, mortality rates associated with diseases such as |
12 | breast and prostate cancer and stroke decreased from 2000 to |
13 | 2006, however, deaths caused by Alzheimer's disease increased by |
14 | more than 47%; and |
15 | WHEREAS, Many individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's disease |
16 | are cared for by family members; and |
17 | WHEREAS, According to the report "2009 Alzheimer's Disease |
18 | Facts and Figures" published by the Alzheimer's Association, |
19 | almost 10 million people in the United States cared for family |
20 | members with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, |
21 | providing 8.5 billion hours of unpaid care valued at |
22 | approximately $94 billion, and unpaid care provided in |
23 | California, New York, Florida, Texas and this Commonwealth alone |
24 | had an estimated value of more than $4 billion; and |
25 | WHEREAS, Caregivers are often forced to reduce their work |
26 | hours, or quit their jobs altogether, suffering a loss in |
27 | earnings during a period when out-of-pocket expenses associated |
28 | with their caregiving duties are estimated to be more than $200 |
29 | monthly; and |
30 | WHEREAS, There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, |
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1 | nor is there any treatment available to impede or halt the |
2 | deterioration of the brain; and |
3 | WHEREAS, However, there are five medications approved by the |
4 | United States Food and Drug Administration that temporarily slow |
5 | the decline of the brain, and research has identified various |
6 | treatment strategies that may have the potential to improve the |
7 | quality of life for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; |
8 | and |
9 | WHEREAS, According to the Alzheimer's Association, |
10 | appropriate use of treatment options, effective integration of |
11 | coexisting conditions into the treatment plan, counseling and |
12 | other support services can improve the quality of life for |
13 | patients and their caregivers; and |
14 | WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease takes a toll not only on those |
15 | who are afflicted with it, but also on those who care for them |
16 | and it is vital that researchers continue to seek a cure and |
17 | that the general public be educated about the disease, the |
18 | treatments available and programs that can assist those who |
19 | suffer from Alzheimer's disease and their families; therefore be |
20 | it |
21 | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the |
22 | month of November 2009 as "Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month" |
23 | in Pennsylvania and urge all citizens to become better educated |
24 | about the disease and its impact on patients and families. |
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