House Adopts Resolution for Alzheimer's Advocacy Day

Submitted by Rep. Patti Bellock. Photo: Legislators join together wearing purple to show bipartisan support for Alzheimer's Advocacy Day on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Springfield, IL - The Illinois House of Representatives has unanimously adopted a resolution, HR 1145, to proclaim April 14 the annual Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Day in the State of Illinois.

The resolution was introduced and sponsored by State Rep. Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale).

Rep. Bellock was a leader in organizing the very first Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day in the State of Illinois several years ago. This year, over 200 volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Illinois Chapter traveled to the State Capitol in Springfield on April 14 to help raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease as a growing public health challenge.

“I would like to thank the Alzheimer’s Association and all the outstanding volunteers and legislators who helped make advocacy day a big success again this year,” Bellock said. “Their combined efforts are truly making a difference in the ongoing research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s and the important task of providing support to caregivers.”

Alzheimer's disease is on the rise with 5.4 million Americans currently living with the disease and an estimated 16 million Americans projected to be diagnosed with the disease by the year 2050.

Currently, 220,000 people in Illinois live with the disease. Someone develops Alzheimer's disease every 66 seconds.

Alzheimer's disease will cost Illinois $1.53 billion in Medicaid funding in 2016. In 2015, there were 590,000 Illinois family members and friends who provided over 671 million hours of unpaid care, valued at $8.22 billion, to their loved ones with Alzheimer's and other dementia.

HR 1145 urges the legislature to make Alzheimer's disease a priority public health issue in the State of Illinois and calls upon all policymakers to join in the efforts to raise awareness and to serve the hundreds of thousands of persons with Alzheimer's and other dementia in Illinois, their families and caregivers.