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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 69
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
COMMENDATIONS. Expresses the Louisiana Senate's continued support of the Louisiana
Alzheimer's Disease Task Force's 2009 Final Report and the implementation of its
recommendations.
A RESOLUTION1
To express the Louisiana Senate's continued support of the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease2
Task Force's 2009 Final Report and implementation of its recommendations3
contained therein.4
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a fatal, degenerative disease of the brain that5
impairs cognitive function, memory and behavior; and 6
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of the aging process and is the7
sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the fifth leading cause of death for8
individuals over 65 years of age; and9
WHEREAS, over five million people nationwide have Alzheimer's disease, including10
approximately 81,000 Louisianians; and11
WHEREAS, nearly one in every three seniors that die each year were experiencing12
various stages of Alzheimer's; and13
WHEREAS, in 2010, 1,295 deaths resulted from Alzheimer's disease in Louisiana;14
and15
WHEREAS, the total cost of care nationally for individuals with Alzheimer's disease16
is expected to soar from $214 billion in 2014 to $1.2 trillion in the year 2050; and17
WHEREAS, nationally, average per-person Medicaid spending for seniors with18 SR NO. 69
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Alzheimer's and other dementias is nineteen times higher than average per-person Medicaid1
spending for all other seniors; and2
WHEREAS, in 2013, 228,000 family caregivers in Louisiana provided 260,000,0003
hours of unpaid Alzheimer's care, valued at 3.2 billion dollars; and4
WHEREAS, nearly 80 percent of Louisiana seniors who reported experiencing5
confusion or memory loss happening more often or getting worse have not talked with a6
health care professional regarding the issue; and7
WHEREAS, approximately 54 percent of Louisiana seniors with memory problems8
report that those problems create difficulty and burden in their daily lives; and9
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease takes a tremendous emotional toll on all whose10
lives it touches, including family members, friends, and especially the caregivers of those11
living with the disease; and12
WHEREAS, more than 60 percent of Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers are13
women; and 14
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force was created by15
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 80 comprised of state officials, as well as statutorily16
defined representatives from interested community and industry partners; and17
WHEREAS, the task force, in accordance with its legislative charge, accomplished18
the following:(1) assessed the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease on19
Louisianians; (2) examined the existing industries, services and resources addressing the20
needs of persons with Alzheimer's, their families and caregivers; (3) developed a strategy21
to mobilize a state response to Alzheimer's; (4) held public meetings and utilized22
technological means to gather feedback from persons and families affected by Alzheimer's;23
and (5) in 2009, submitted a report of findings and recommendations to the Louisiana24
Legislature and the governor in the form of a state Alzheimer's plan; and25
WHEREAS, recommendations from the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force's26
2009 Final Report covered the following areas: infrastructure; data collection; education and27
training; early detection and diagnosis; safety; services and facilities; and health coverage;28
and 29
WHEREAS, full implementation of the task force's final report will move Louisiana30 SR NO. 69
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closer to becoming a dementia-capable state and better suited to handle the fiscal,1
psychological and social demands that Alzheimer's places on Louisiana families.2
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana3
does hereby express its continued support of the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force's4
2009 Final Report and implementation of its recommendations.5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there be a renewed focus on implementation of6
the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force's 2009 Final Report, in partnership with the7
Department of Health and Hospitals and the Alzheimer's Association's Louisiana chapter.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the9
Alzheimer's Association of Louisiana and the Department of Health and Hospitals.10
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Dawn Romero Watson.
DIGEST
Walsworth SR No. 69
Express the Senate's continued support of the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force's
2009 Final Report and implementation of its recommendations.