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H8319 2026 -- H 8319 ======== LC003537 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N PROCLAIMING MARCH 20, 2026, TO BE ALZHEIMER S AWARENESS DAY IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, McNamara, Fellela, Finkelman, Messier, Furtado, and Roberts Date Introduced: March 19, 2026 Referred To: House read and passed 1 WHEREAS, Alzheimer s disease is a degenerative brain disease, and the most common 2 form of dementia that results in loss of memory and other cognitive function, and eventually 3 death; and 4 WHEREAS, Alzheimer s disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United 5 States and the fifth leading cause of death for persons aged 65 and over; and 6 WHEREAS, It is estimated that one in three seniors dies from Alzheimer s disease or 7 another dementia, more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined; and 8 WHEREAS, An estimated 7 million people in the United States are living with 9 Alzheimer s disease, and this number is anticipated to increase to 12.7 million by 2050; and 10 WHEREAS, The direct costs to the United States caring for individuals living with 11 Alzheimer s disease in 2024 was estimated to be $360 billion, increasing to nearly $1 trillion by 12 2050, making it the most expensive disease in America; and 13 WHEREAS, More than 24,000 Rhode Islanders are living with Alzheimer s disease, and 14 an estimated 36,000 family caregivers provide approximately 51 million hours of unpaid care 15 valued at more than $1.1 billion; and 16 WHEREAS, Alzheimer s disease is the fifth leading cause of death in Rhode Island for 17 persons 65 years of age or older; and 18 WHEREAS, Older Black Americans face nearly 2 times, and Latino Americans face 19 nearly 1.5 times higher risk of developing Alzheimer s disease; and 1 WHEREAS, Rhode Island s per capita Medicare spending on people with dementia is 2 $31,741, and Rhode Island s Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer s disease is 3 nearly $500 million; and 4 WHEREAS, Caregiving for individuals with Alzheimer s disease often takes an 5 enormous toll on family members; caregivers themselves often suffer more stress, depression, and 6 health problems than caregivers of people with other illnesses; and 7 WHEREAS, An increasing number of individuals are developing younger-onset 8 Alzheimer s disease, a form of the disease that occurs prior to age 65 and can be particularly 9 difficult on family dynamics and economics due to its early occurrence; and 10 WHEREAS, As the population of older adults in Rhode Island continues to grow, there 11 will be an increased demand for residential, home-based, and community-based services that will 12 in turn mean an increased demand for direct care workers, including home health aides, certified 13 nursing assistants, and personal care aides; and 14 WHEREAS, Advocates are visiting the State House today, to raise awareness and inform 15 legislators of the challenges they face navigating Alzheimer s and all other dementias; now, 16 therefore be it 17 RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 18 proclaims March 20, 2026, as Alzheimer s Awareness Day in the State of Rhode Island; and be 19 it further 20 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 21 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Donna McGowan, Executive Director, 22 Alzheimer s Association, Rhode Island Chapter. ======== LC003537 ======== LC003537 - Page 2 of 2
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