Senate Resolution No. 1133

BY: Senator COONEY

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 2021, 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 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2021, as
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, There are more than 6 million people living with
Alzheimer's disease and dementia in the United States, 410,000 of whom
are New York State residents; and

WHEREAS, Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops
Alzheimer's, which could result in an estimated 460,000 New Yorkers
living with the disease by 2025; and

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

WHEREAS, The total cost of caring for those in the United States
with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is estimated at 355 billion
dollars in 2021; 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, on average,
23 times higher; and

WHEREAS, Caregivers provide approximately 15.3 billion unpaid hours
of care, of which New York caregivers account for 586 million hours,
valued over 14 billion dollars, to their loved ones who are living with
Alzheimer's disease; 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 health care settings for
their care recipient; 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 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2021, as
Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.