NYS Declares June “Alzheimer & Brain Awareness Month”

The New York State Senate and Assembly, through the leadership of Senator Rachel May and Assemblymember Harry Bronson, passed Resolution J.1665 commemorating June as Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month in New York State. The proclamation, presented to Alzheimer’s Association advocates by Sen. May during a ceremony on Tuesday at the Capitol, draws attention to the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in the United State and its specific impacts on New York.

“We are grateful that Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature have acknowledged June 2019 as Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month,” said Christopher Smith, New York State Regional Director for the Alzheimer’s Association and Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association New York City Chapter. “Our coordination with the New York State Department of Health, Governor’s office, and the legislature has set an example for other states in how to respond to this public health crisis.”

Sen. May said: “As Chair of the Senate Committee on Aging, I am proud to recognize June 2019 as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month in New York. With an estimated 400,000 New Yorkers living with Alzheimer’s, we must make it a priority to support family members and caregivers, as well as dedicate the resources needed to identify treatments and find a cure. I am proud to stand with the Alzheimer’s Association in their efforts to tackle this devastating disease.” May, of Onondaga County, is chair of the Senate Committee on Aging.

Assemblymember Bronson said: “Over five million people are living with Alzheimer’s in the United States, costing our nation billions of hours of unpaid labor, millions of dollars in care-related expenses, and placing an untold burden on our family’s hearts. As chair of the Assembly Aging Committee, I am committed to protecting the health, safety, and independence of our older New Yorkers, and I am thankful for the support of my colleagues who joined me in naming June 2019 Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month in New York State. I also wish to express my gratitude for the partnership and leadership of the Alzheimer’s Association as we seek to increase awareness of this serious health issue.” Bronson, who is chair of the Assembly Aging Committee, represents parts of Rochester and its western suburbs.

There are 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 400,000 in New York State. Without an effective treatment, prevention or cure, the number of people in the Empire State with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to increase 15 percent by the year 2025. More than 1 million New Yorkers provide unpaid care to someone with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. That unpaid care represents an economic value of nearly $14.6 billion. Alzheimer’s creates a major burden on the state’s Medicaid coffers. New York will spend more Medicaid dollars ($5.037 billion) on the care for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia in 2018 than any other state in America.

“New York’s Alzheimer’s caregivers are projected to have $895 million more in aggravated health-care costs than non-caregivers this year,” Smith said. “We are grateful for the leadership of Governor Cuomo, Senator May, Assemblymember Bronson and the legislative branch for recognizing the importance of addressing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia.”

New York State’s seven Alzheimer’s Association chapters offer free resources to the millions of people facing Alzheimer‘s disease, including in-person education and support programs, a 24-Hour Helpline (800.272.3900) and website at alz.org. It also provides critical international leadership and funding to advance research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer‘s.

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing public awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, available resources and how you can get involved to support the cause. The Alzheimer’s Association is asking everyone to come together this June to support Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month and to join the fight against Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org and learn more about Alzheimer’s, its warning signs, the importance of early detection and diagnosis as well as information on care and support.