SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 38

(By Senators Stollings, Wells, Foster, Unger, Jenkins, McCabe, Miller, Laird, Prezioso, Williams, Klempa, Kessler (Acting President) and D. Facemire)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the needs, challenges and issues facing West Virginians with Alzheimer's disease and their families for the purpose of making recommendations on how the State of West Virginia can better assist them in getting the care, research, support and treatment they deserve.

    Whereas, According to the national Alzheimer's Association, there are currently 5.3 million Americans and forty-eight thousand West Virginians with Alzheimer's disease; and

    Whereas, The greatest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's is age and according to the US Census Bureau in 2008 West Virginia had the third highest median age in the nation; and

    Whereas, Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in this country, yet according to the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health Statistics it is the fifth leading cause of death in West Virginia; and

    Whereas, West Virginia's rate for mortality from dementia is eleven percent higher than the national average; and

    Whereas, Alzheimer's is increasingly viewed as having a vascular basis and subject to the same risk factors as stroke and cardiovascular illness such as smoking, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, in 2008 West Virginia ranked first in the nation in the prevalence of smoking and diabetes; and

    Whereas, Between 1998 and 2007 the rate of hospital discharges in West Virginia with dementia as a principle diagnosis increased twenty-nine percent; and

    Whereas, The Alzheimer's Association estimates there are more than one hundred thousand family members caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's in West Virginia; and

    Whereas, Biomedical research is an investment in the future economic diversity of our state; and

    Whereas, West Virginia is home to a world-class Research Institute dedicated to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease; and

    Whereas, One proven way to collect information about the number of people in West Virginia with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia is through a population-based disease registry, West Virginia Alzheimer's Disease Registry; and

    Whereas, West Virginia physicians should receive the best evidence-based continuing medical education related to screening, diagnosing and treating patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia; and

    Whereas, The Alzheimer's Association is currently working with stakeholders throughout West Virginia to develop a long-term plan to address Alzheimer's disease in West Virginia; and

    Whereas, The State of West Virginia is committed to developing a long-term plan to address Alzheimer's disease and in enhancing services and support to provide assistance to individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families in getting the care, research, support and treatment they need; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the needs, challenges and issues facing West Virginians with Alzheimer's disease and their families for the purpose of making recommendations on how the State of West Virginia can better assist them in getting the care, research, support and treatment they deserve; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2012, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report, and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.