Congresswoman Waters Recognizes Alzheimer’s Action Day
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, which works to increase awareness of Alzheimer's and strengthen the federal commitment to address the disease, issued the following statement in recognition of Alzheimer's Action Day, which falls on Saturday, September 21, 2013:
"As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, I am proud to join the millions of families who are affected by Alzheimer's to recognize tomorrow as Alzheimer's Action Day.
"Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and it affects over five million American families. One in nine Americans age 65 and older has Alzheimer's, and one in three Americans age 85 and older suffers from this disease. The Alzheimer's Association estimates that more than 7 million Americans over age 65 will have Alzheimer's by the year 2025. Every 68 seconds, another person in the United States develops Alzheimer's.
"Last month, I introduced two bills to address the needs of patients with Alzheimer's disease, their families and caregivers. The Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Act (H.R. 2975) authorizes grants to public and non-profit organizations to expand training and support services for families and caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. The Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2976) helps Alzheimer's patients who wander away from their homes and are unable to tell people in the community who they are or where they live. Both bills are supported by the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America and have more than 30 cosponsors, including Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), my friend and fellow Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease.
"On Alzheimer's Action Day, we honor Alzheimer's patients, and we honor the people who love and care for them. Alzheimer's patients deserve a life with dignity. Let us rededicate ourselves to doing all we can to support and assist all those who are affected by this tragic disease."
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