Congresswoman Waters Introduces the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act in honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
Listen to this articleWASHINGTON – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), the Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, introduced the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act(H.R. 10192) yesterday in honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, which is celebrated in November. The bill is cosponsored by 19 of the Congresswoman’s congressional colleagues and endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) and the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).
The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act authorizes grants to public and non-profit organizations to expand training and support services for families and unpaid caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate with the Administration for Community Living, the Office of Women’s Health, and the Office of Minority Health in order to ensure that women, minorities, people living with disabilities, and underserved communities will benefit from the program.
“Alzheimer’s is a tragic disease affecting almost seven million Americans, and it is taking a severe toll on families and caregivers,” said Congresswoman Waters. “I am proud to have the support of so many of my colleagues to confront the immense challenges that Alzheimer’s presents to patients, families, and caregivers.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Alzheimer’s is the seventh leading cause of death among adults in the United States and the sixth leading cause of death among adults aged 65 years and older. Moreover, while promising scientific research is ongoing, there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s has a devastating impact on caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Associationestimates that more than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care to family and friends living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. These caregivers provide more than 18 billion hours of unpaid care for people with dementia every year, at an estimated value of nearly $350 billion. When compared with caregivers for people without dementia, twice as many caregivers for people with dementia indicate substantial emotional, financial, and physical difficulties.
“Expanding access to training and support services will improve the ability of caregivers to provide effective and compassionate care, promote the physical and mental health of caregivers, and lower overall care costs by allowing those living with dementia to remain in their homes with their loved ones while delaying placement in more costly institutional settings,” said Congresswoman Waters.
