By Shea Summerlin, Ambassador w/ the AL/ FL Panhandle Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association
At a cost of $236 billion a year, Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in the nation. Nearly one in every five Medicare dollars is spent on caring for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. These costs will only continue to increase as baby boomers age, soaring to more than $1 trillion in 2050. In addition, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates there are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, including over 89,000 here in Alabama.
Thank you to Representative Gary Palmer for recently holding town halls across the sixth district and addressing questions related to the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act and the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA). Both of these pieces of legislation will improve the quality of life of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and of their caregivers.
We rely on such great awareness and support to assist us with meeting our mission to end Alzheimer’s once and for all. Please join with us in urging all who serve in public office to take bold action in confronting this epidemic now. It is only through adequate funding and a strong implementation of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease that we will meet its goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer’s by 2025.