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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 69
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
A RESOLUTION
To express the Louisiana Senate's continued support of the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease
Task Force's 2009 Final Report and implementation of its recommendations
contained therein.
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a fatal, degenerative disease of the brain that
impairs cognitive function, memory and behavior; and
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of the aging process and is the
sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and the fifth leading cause of death for
individuals over 65 years of age; and
WHEREAS, over five million people nationwide have Alzheimer's disease, including
approximately 81,000 Louisianians; and
WHEREAS, nearly one in every three seniors that die each year were experiencing
various stages of Alzheimer's; and
WHEREAS, in 2010, 1,295 deaths resulted from Alzheimer's disease in Louisiana;
and
WHEREAS, the total cost of care nationally for individuals with Alzheimer's disease
is expected to soar from $214 billion in 2014 to $1.2 trillion in the year 2050; and
WHEREAS, nationally, average per-person Medicaid spending for seniors with
Alzheimer's and other dementias is nineteen times higher than average per-person Medicaid
spending for all other seniors; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, 228,000 family caregivers in Louisiana provided 260,000,000
hours of unpaid Alzheimer's care, valued at $3.2 billion; and
WHEREAS, nearly 80 percent of Louisiana seniors who reported experiencing
confusion or memory loss happening more often or getting worse have not talked with a
health care professional regarding the issue; and
WHEREAS, approximately 54 percent of Louisiana seniors with memory problems
report that those problems create difficulty and burden in their daily lives; and SR NO. 69 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease takes a tremendous emotional toll on all whose
lives it touches, including family members, friends, and especially the caregivers of those
living with the disease; and
WHEREAS, more than 60 percent of Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers are
women; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force was created by
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 80 comprised of state officials, as well as statutorily
defined representatives from interested community and industry partners; and
WHEREAS, the task force, in accordance with its legislative charge, accomplished
the following:(1) assessed the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease on
Louisianians; (2) examined the existing industries, services and resources addressing the
needs of persons with Alzheimer's, their families and caregivers; (3) developed a strategy
to mobilize a state response to Alzheimer's; (4) held public meetings and utilized
technological means to gather feedback from persons and families affected by Alzheimer's;
and (5) in 2009, submitted a report of findings and recommendations to the Louisiana
Legislature and the governor in the form of a state Alzheimer's plan; and
WHEREAS, recommendations from the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force's
2009 Final Report covered the following areas: infrastructure; data collection; education and
training; early detection and diagnosis; safety; services and facilities; and health coverage;
and
WHEREAS, full implementation of the task force's final report will move Louisiana
closer to becoming a dementia-capable state and better suited to handle the fiscal,
psychological and social demands that Alzheimer's places on Louisiana families.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby express its continued support of the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force's
2009 Final Report and implementation of its recommendations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there be a renewed focus on implementation of
the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force's 2009 Final Report, in partnership with the
Department of Health and Hospitals and the Alzheimer's Association's Louisiana chapter. SR NO. 69 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Alzheimer's Association of Louisiana and the Department of Health and Hospitals.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE