ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 178
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the intention and commitment of the Legislature of Louisiana to renew the state's
focus on implementation of the State Alzheimer's Plan recommended by the
Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force, in partnership with the Department of
Health and Hospitals and the Louisiana chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
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
WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United
States and the fifth leading cause of death for those over sixty-five years of age; and
WHEREAS, more than five million people nationwide have Alzheimer's disease,
including approximately eighty-two thousand people in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, nearly one in every three seniors dies each year with Alzheimer's
disease; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, one thousand five hundred five 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 two hundred twenty-six billion dollars in 2015 to one trillion one
hundred billion dollars in the year 2050; and
WHEREAS, nationally, the 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 2014, two hundred thirty thousand family caregivers in Louisiana
provided two hundred sixty-two million hours of unpaid Alzheimer's disease care, valued
at three billion two hundred million dollars; and
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WHEREAS, nearly eighty percent of Louisiana seniors who have reported
experiencing confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or getting worse have
not talked with a healthcare professional about it; and
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 Alzheimer's disease; and
WHEREAS, more than sixty percent of Alzheimer's disease and dementia caregivers
are women; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Louisiana Alzheimer's Disease Task Force was established
by the Louisiana Legislature; and
WHEREAS, the task force was composed of members from relevant state agencies
as well as representatives from interested community and industry partners; and
WHEREAS, the task force, in accordance with its legislative charge, assessed the
current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease on the people of Louisiana, examined the
existing industries, services, and resources addressing the needs of persons with Alzheimer's
disease, their families, and caregivers, and held public meetings and utilized technological
means to gather feedback from persons and families affected by Alzheimer's disease; and
WHEREAS, the task force submitted a final report of findings and recommendations
to the legislature and the governor in the form of a State Alzheimer's Plan in October of
2009; and
WHEREAS, recommendations from the final report of the Louisiana Alzheimer's
Disease Task Force covered several areas, including infrastructure, data collection, education
and training, early detection and diagnosis, safety, services and facilities, and healthcare
coverage; and
WHEREAS, implementation of the State Alzheimer's Plan will move Louisiana
closer to becoming a dementia-capable state, better suited to handle the fiscal, psychological,
and social demands that Alzheimer's disease places on Louisiana families.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express the intention and commitment of the legislature to renew the state's focus on
implementation of the State Alzheimer's Plan recommended by the Louisiana Alzheimer's
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Disease Task Force, in partnership with the Department of Health and Hospitals and the
Louisiana chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the Louisiana chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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