As the Alzheimer's Association Ambassador for Texas' 7th Congressional District, I ask that you help spread the word about three bipartisan policies to support the Association and the community they
serve in the fourth relief package.
I want to thank Representatives Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) for her help in fighting Alzheimer's disease.
All you have to do is CLICK THIS LINK and let your member of Congress know you support these issues.
People living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia are at increased risk of having serious complications relating to COVID-19 due to their typical age and likelihood of coexisting conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older adults and those with serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease are at higher risk of getting very sick from this virus. There are currently 5.8 million Americans age 65 or older living with Alzheimer’s dementia and more than 95 percent of people with the disease have other chronic conditions. This includes 38 percent of people with Alzheimer’s that also have heart disease and 37 percent that also have diabetes.
There are also over 16 million Americans providing unpaid care for individuals living with Alzhiemer’s and other dementia. In 2019, these caregivers provided an estimated 18.6 billion hours of care valued at nearly $244 billion. Caregivers of those with dementia face unique challenges. Though the care provided by family members of people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia is somewhat similar to the help provided by caregivers of people with other conditions, dementia caregivers tend to provide more extensive assistance. Family caregivers of people with dementia are more likely to help with self-care and mobility, health or medical care, and activities of daily living than are caregivers of people without dementia.
Despite these uncertain times, we remain unwavering in our mission. We’re working to ensure that bipartisan policies to improve the lives of all impacted by dementia are included in the fourth
economic recovery package.
As the #COVID19 pandemic continues to impact millions of Americans living with dementia, their caregivers, and nonprofits like ours, we're calling on Congress to include 3 bipartisan
policies to support our community in the fourth relief bill.
Promoting Alzheimer’s Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act
People living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia are at heightened risk for experiencing elder abuse.
We urge Congress to include the Promoting Alzheimer’s Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act which would require the Department of Justice to develop training materials to assist professionals who support victims of abuse living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia in order to improve the quality of their interactions with this vulnerable population, and help protect them from elder abuse. This bill is being led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.).
Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (S.880/H.R.1873)
The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging health systems worldwide and raising many important issues, including care planning in the presence of acute life-threatening illness, especially for those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia. We urge Congress to include the bipartisan Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act which would increase the use of the care planning benefit in order to help more families by educating clinicians on the Alzheimer’s and dementia care planning services available through Medicare.
Expand Access to Credit for Nonprofits
As a leading voluntary health charity, we are committed to quality care, support, and research that will benefit people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, caregivers, and families, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We ask Congress to establish an exclusive fund to support nonprofit employers with between 500 and 10,000 employees, including loan forgiveness and other provisions to enable the Alzheimer’s Association and other large health charities to continue to effectively serve the communities that depend on our resources now and in the future.
