Declare Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Assembly Resolution No. 472 BY: M. of A. Bronson MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2019, as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2019, as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, There are more than 5.8 million people living with Alzheimer's disease and dementia in the United States, 400,000 of whom are New York State residents; and WHEREAS, It is estimated that Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80 percent of all dementia cases; and WHEREAS, Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's, which could result in an estimated 460,000 New Yorkers living with the disease by 2025; and WHEREAS, Alzheimer's kills more people than breast and prostate cancer combined; and WHEREAS, The total cost of caring for those in the United States with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is estimated at 290 billion dollars in 2018; and WHEREAS, Average per-person Medicare spending for seniors with Alzheimer's is almost three times higher than average per-person spending for all other seniors; under Medicaid, spending is, on average,

23 times higher; and WHEREAS, Informal caregivers spend an average of 5,000 dollars of personal funds per year caring for someone in their family living with Alzheimer's; and WHEREAS, Caregivers provide approximately 18.5 billion unpaid hours of care, of which New York caregivers account for 1.2 billion hours, valued over 14 billion dollars, to their loved ones that are living with Alzheimer's disease; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, State and national levels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2019, as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.