Senate Resolution No. 2104

BY: Senator COONEY

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
June 2026 as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2026 as Alzheimer's
and Brain Awareness Month in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, There are approximately 7.4 million people living with
Alzheimer's disease and dementia in the United States in 2026; 427,000
are New York State residents over the age of 65; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's kills more people than breast cancer and
prostate cancer combined; and

WHEREAS, Researchers believe that approximately 110 of every 100,000
people, aged 30 to 64 years, or approximately 200,000 Americans in
total, have younger-onset dementia; and

WHEREAS, The total lifetime cost of care for a person with
Alzheimer's disease or other dementia in the United States is estimated
at $405,000 dollars; and

WHEREAS, Average per-person Medicare spending for seniors with
Alzheimer's is almost three times higher than average per-person
spending for all other seniors; under Medicaid, spending is 23 times
higher on average; and

WHEREAS, In New York State, 776,000 caregivers provided 1.3 billion
hours of unpaid care; 61.2% of these caregivers live with chronic health
issues of their own, and 20% report living with depression; and

WHEREAS, Findings from two national surveys reveal that
discrimination is a barrier to Alzheimer's and dementia care; more than
one-third of Black Americans (36%) and nearly one-fifth of Hispanic
Americans (18%) and Asian Americans (19%) believe discrimination would
be a barrier to receiving Alzheimer's care; and

WHEREAS, In addition, half or more of non-White caregivers say they
have experienced discrimination when navigating healthcare settings for
their care recipients; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, state, and national levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 2026 as Alzheimer's
and Brain Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.