Special Committee On Aging Discusses The Alzheimer's Report On Ways To Improve Care, USA

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 30 Mar 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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On March 25th, Ranking Member Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Chairman Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) of the Special Committee on Aging examined the Alzheimer's Study Group report on ways to improve the lives and treatment of patients and families affected by Alzheimer's disease. The report is the culmination of the Group's work over the last 20 months

"Almost half of Americans over age 85 are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and its effects are often felt far beyond individual households," said Martinez. "As a nation, we have to continue finding ways to improve our understanding of Alzheimer's and further develop a coordinated long-term care system of drugs, therapies, and other interventions to treat and slow the disease. With the hard work of our health care communities and researchers, we can establish the best practices for working with patients and caregivers, and as a result, some patients living with Alzheimer's are staying at home longer with family and loved ones."

"We must pursue breakthroughs in science and methods of care to beat the growing crisis of Alzheimer's disease," said Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and Co-Chair of ASG. "The National Alzheimer's Strategic Plan is the best collaborative approach to not only provide more effective care and support, for those with Alzheimer's and their families, but also the opportunity to substantially accelerate the arrival of new therapies that will turn the tide against this disease and defeat it."

"Alzheimer's is not a part of normal aging, it is a disease which requires intense and expensive dependent care that is severely stressing our country's Medicare and Medicaid programs," said Senator Bob Kerrey, President of The New School and Co-Chair of ASG. "We have proposed the National Alzheimer's Strategic Plan to accelerate and focus efforts, reengineer dementia care delivery, and, ultimately, prevent Alzheimer's disease. Without substantial progress toward overcoming this disease, millions of Americans and their families will suffer the devastating, progressive loss that comes with Alzheimer's. ASG believes we can secure a much better future for our Nation - one without Alzheimer's."

Martinez noted one of the efforts Congress should act on in relation to caring for those afflicted with Alzheimer's is the Silver Alert program - a proposal to coordinate local, state and federal agencies in the search for missing adults and senior citizens, including those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's.

"The Silver Alert program will create a coordinated search effort among law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions to find missing loved ones in need of special care," Martinez said. "States like Florida have become a success model for this program and I am committed to seeing Silver Alert offered nationwide."

Source
Alzheimer's Study Group