Earlier this spring, the U.S. Capitol was flooded by a sea of purple shirts. These thousands of visitors arrived from every corner of the country to raise awareness about the far-reaching effects of Alzheimer’s disease. A group of those advocates from Maine stopped by my office to discuss the need to support continued funding and research. I was struck by their stories, their dedication to finding a cure, and their love and compassion for the patients and family members who care for them.
With June marking Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month, Congress must too bring awareness to the significant impact of this disease and act on the growing need for new Alzheimer’s legislation. Americans have long felt the harmful impact of this disease. It is estimated that more than five million people in our country suffer from Alzheimer’s and as many as 16 million will have the disease by 2050. That’s why care planning assistance is paramount to properly aiding patients and families affected by the disease, while also responsibly responding to our country’s aging population. That is why I have joined Senator Susan Collins and others to support the Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act of 2015, a bill that amends Medicare to cover comprehensive Alzheimer’s disease care planning services.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain’s nerve cells, causing loss of memory while damaging cognitive, language and social capabilities. It is the most common cause of dementia, and nearly one in every three seniors who dies each year suffers from Alzheimer’s or another dementia. In Maine, there are currently 26,000 people over the age of 65 living with Alzheimer’s – a number that is projected to increase to 35,000 in just ten years. As more individuals and families are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease a clear cut plan is needed to assist patients and families in understanding the specific diagnosis and the options for ongoing treatments, services, and supports.
This is where the HOPE Act can improve coverage under Medicare. By recognizing Alzheimer’s disease early and combatting it with advanced care services, both the caregiver and patient are provided with the right tools to better understand their options for service and treatment as the disease progresses. This will cut down on hospital visits, 911 calls, ambulance trips, and premature institutionalization in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
The role of the caregiver is too often overlooked in the battle against Alzheimer’s. An entire family frequently invests immeasurable hours of unpaid care to oversee the well-being of their loved one. This not only takes them away from their day-to-day jobs, it also creates emotional stress and the additional health care costs that come with it. In 2014, Maine incurred about $53 million in higher health costs for the estimated 68,000 caregivers in the state. With our legislation, the caregivers are included in the care planning services, providing them with a greater understanding of Alzheimer’s while also supplying them with more information and resources to help them stay healthy and positive as they confront their relative’s development of the disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a significant challenge – for families, for modern medicine, and of course for the patients who struggle to cope with a progressive loss of memory and weakened skills. And even in today’s world of rapid medical advancement, there is no cure. While we work to find a cure, healthcare professionals who constantly employ new medical advancements to fight the disease, as well as information and communication among patients, doctors, and caregivers will continue to be powerful tools in the battle against this terrible disease.
