HJ0039eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0039 Engrossed LRB095 11690 DRJ 34537 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 39

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a slow, progressive disorder of the brain that results in loss of memory and other cognitive functions and, eventually, results in death; and

WHEREAS, Because Alzheimer's is accompanied by memory loss, poor judgment, changes in personality and behavior, and a tendency to wander, individuals with this disease are at increased risk for accidental injury, getting lost, abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and

WHEREAS, With one in 10 people over age 65 and almost one in every two people over 85 having Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, over the past 10 years the number of Illinoisans with Alzheimer's and related dementias has risen dramatically to the point that today over 210,000 people are affected; and

WHEREAS, As the baby boom generation enters the age of greatest risk for Alzheimer's, by 2025 their number in Illinois is expected to increase to over 239,000; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease takes an enormous toll on loving family members, with an estimated one in four acting as a caregiver for each individual with the disease; and

WHEREAS, Caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer's watch closely the deleterious effects of the disease and often suffer more stress, depression, and health problems than caregivers of people with other illnesses; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is considered to be early onset if an individual is younger than 65 when symptoms first appear, and early onset Alzheimer's can strike someone as early as their 30s, 40s, and 50s, with new data showing there may be half a million Americans under age 65 who have dementia or cognitive impairment at a level of severity consistent with dementia; and

WHEREAS, The Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act created the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee of 21 members to review all State programs and services provided by State agencies that are directed toward persons with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias and to recommend changes to improve the State's response to this serious health problem; and

WHEREAS, The 93rd General Assembly created the Legislative Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease pursuant to House Joint Resolution 14, and that task force conducted hearings which included each of the State agencies having primary responsibility for implementing the "Alzheimer's Initiative" of the 84th General Assembly when this matter was given a high priority nearly 20 years ago, and the agencies were instructed to provide an update on the progress made in implementing that initiative - to determine whether the programs and services developed by the State agencies reflect the original priority; the reports of the agencies did not demonstrate any particular progress, nor priority commensurate with the original interest and intent of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, THE 93rd General Assembly Legislative Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease recommended that the function of the statutory Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee should be expanded to include oversight and evaluation of the services provided by the various State agencies and to solicit additional findings and recommendations for improving State programs and services; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois must not be complacent and must renew its commitment to develop a more aggressive State plan to ensure that the framework of programs and services to help Illinoisans with Alzheimer's and other related dementia are functioning and capable of meeting the challenge of this serious public health problem among Illinoisans; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Department of Public Health immediately comply with the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Act in activating the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee and ensuring that it fulfills the requirement of reviewing all State programs and services provided by State agencies directed toward persons with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, and recommending changes to improve the State's response to this serious health problem; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Health, in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee, assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease on Illinoisans, to examine the existing services and resources addressing the needs of persons with Alzheimer's and their families and caregivers, and to prepare, and develop a strategy to implement, an Alzheimer's Disease and Other Related Dementia State Plan in response to this public health crisis; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee shall include in its Alzheimer's Disease and Other Related Dementia State Plan an examination of the following:

(1) trends in the State's Alzheimer's population and their needs, including the changing population with dementia, including but not limited to:

(A) the State's role in long-term care, family caregiver support, and assistance to persons with early-stage and early onset Alzheimer's; and

(B) the State's policy regarding persons with Alzheimer's and developmental disabilities;

(2) existing services, resources, and capacity, including but not limited to:

(A) the type, cost, and availability of dementia services;

(B) the capacity of public safety and law enforcement to respond to persons with Alzheimer's;

(C) the availability of home and community-based resources for persons with Alzheimer's and respite care to assist families;

(D) an inventory of long-term care special dementia care units;

(E) the adequacy and appropriateness of geriatric-psychiatric units for persons with behavior disorders associated with Alzheimer's and related dementias;

(F) assisted living residential options for persons with dementia; and

(G) State support of Alzheimer's research through Illinois universities and other resources; and

(3) needed State policies and responses, including, but not limited to, recommendations for provision of clear and coordinated services and support to persons and families living with Alzheimer's and related disorders, and ways to address any identified gaps in service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department on Aging, in cooperation with the Department of Public Health and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, shall provide support staff to the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee and shall be responsible for preparing any necessary materials and reports in conjunction with the work of the Committee; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Alzheimer's Disease Advisory Committee shall provide an Alzheimer's Disease and Other Related Dementia State Plan to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2009; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor, the Director of Aging, the Director of Public Health, and the Director of Healthcare and Family Services.