1 | House Resolution |
2 | A resolution encouraging participation in National Memory |
3 | Screening Day. |
4 |
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5 | WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a slow, progressive |
6 | disorder of the brain that results in loss of memory and other |
7 | cognitive function and, eventually, death, and |
8 | WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of |
9 | death in the United States and currently affects an estimated |
10 | 5.4 million Americans, and |
11 | WHEREAS, in Florida alone, it is estimated that nearly |
12 | 500,000 people have Alzheimer's disease, and |
13 | WHEREAS, the stigma associated with the disease results in |
14 | a delay of diagnosis, in some cases up to 6 years, and |
15 | WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease takes an enormous toll on |
16 | family members, with an estimated one in four acting as |
17 | caregivers for each individual with the disease, and |
18 | WHEREAS, caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer's |
19 | disease suffer more stress, depression, and health problems than |
20 | caregivers for people with other illnesses, and |
21 | WHEREAS, recent advancements in scientific research have |
22 | demonstrated the benefits of early medical treatment for |
23 | individuals with Alzheimer's disease, as well as the benefits of |
24 | early access to counseling and other support services for their |
25 | caregivers, and |
26 | WHEREAS, with an early diagnosis, individuals can avoid or |
27 | correct contributing medical problems, commence available |
28 | therapy, organize current and future care, and enhance self- |
29 | determination and caregivers can identify and embrace community |
30 | support services, and |
31 | WHEREAS, in direct response to research breakthroughs, |
32 | National Memory Screening Day was established by the Alzheimer's |
33 | Foundation of America (AFA) as a collaborative effort with local |
34 | organizations and health care professionals across the county to |
35 | promote awareness, early detection, and early diagnosis of |
36 | memory impairment so that individuals can obtain proper medical |
37 | treatment, social services, and other resources related to the |
38 | treatment of their condition, and |
39 | WHEREAS, National Memory Screening Day is held by the AFA |
40 | each third Tuesday in November in recognition of National |
41 | Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and, on this day, health |
42 | care professionals administer free, confidential, face-to-face |
43 | memory screenings at thousands of sites throughout the United |
44 | States, and |
45 | WHEREAS, memory screening is not used to diagnose any |
46 | illness, but is used as an indicator to determine whether a |
47 | person might benefit from further examination by a qualified |
48 | health care provider, and |
49 | WHEREAS, memory screenings are a safe and cost-effective |
50 | intervention to direct at-risk individuals to appropriate |
51 | clinical resources, thus reducing the costs of long-term care or |
52 | hospitalization resulting from undiagnosed complications, and |
53 | WHEREAS, screenings also greatly benefit those with normal |
54 | scores by checking their memory, allaying fears, and promoting |
55 | chronic disease prevention and successful aging, NOW, THEREFORE, |
56 |
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57 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
58 | Florida: |
59 |
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60 | That the Florida House of Representatives encourages all |
61 | Americans with memory concerns or who want to check their memory |
62 | to have memory screenings at National Memory Screening Day sites |
63 | or by other qualified professionals on November 15, 2011, |
64 | National Memory Screening Day. |