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92_SJ0065
LRB9216425BDdvC
1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive
3 degenerative disease of the brain that affects numerous
4 Illinois citizens; and
5 WHEREAS, 210,600 citizens of Illinois are afflicted with
6 Alzheimer's disease; 10% of persons over the age of 65 and
7 nearly 50% of persons over the age of 85 suffer from the
8 disease; at least 50% of all nursing home residents have
9 Alzheimer's disease or dementia; and
10 WHEREAS, 70% of people with Alzheimer's disease live at
11 home, and 75% of these individuals depend upon the care of
12 family and friends; frequently, the family caregivers' health
13 is compromised due to the stress of providing care; and
14 WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is extremely costly; the
15 average lifetime cost of Alzheimer's disease is $174,000 per
16 person; the cost of home care can exceed $18,000 per year and
17 the cost of nursing home care averages $42,000 per year; and
18 WHEREAS, A significant function of government is to
19 promote the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens;
20 therefore be it
21 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
22 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
23 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there be created the
24 Illinois Legislative Alzheimer's Disease Task Force
25 consisting of 8 members of the Illinois General Assembly
26 appointed as follows: two members of the Senate appointed by
27 the President of the Senate, one of whom to serve as
28 co-chairman; two members of the Senate appointed by the
29 Minority Leader of the Senate; two members of the House of
30 Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of
31 Representatives, one of whom to serve as co-chairman; and two
-2- LRB9216425BDdvC
1 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the
2 Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; all of whom
3 shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for
4 their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds
5 appropriated for that purpose; and be it further
6 RESOLVED, That the mission of the Task Force shall be to
7 help optimize the quality of life for people who suffer from
8 Alzheimer's disease and their families through advocacy,
9 education, support, and services, while actively promoting
10 research to eliminate the disease; the Task Force shall
11 examine, along with any other issues it chooses to
12 investigate with respect to Alzheimer's disease, the
13 following issues: (1) the disease facts, prevalence, and
14 costs; (2) the financial barriers to essential care; (3) the
15 continuum of care, including medical assessment or diagnosis,
16 drug therapy, caregiver training and support, home and
17 community based care, adult day services, residential care
18 options, and hospice care; and (4) the training and
19 qualifications of those who work with individuals with
20 Alzheimer's; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall receive the
22 assistance of legislative staff, may employ skilled experts
23 with the approval of the President of the Senate, and shall
24 report its findings to the General Assembly on or before
25 December 1, 2002.