Recognizing June as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and commending the work of advocates and researchers working to improve brain health and cognitive function through risk reduction, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Recognizing June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and commending the work of advocates and researchers working to improve brain health and cognitive function through risk reduction, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. WHEREAS, Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain illness that impacts the memory and cognitive functioning of more than 7 million Americans, some 11.5% of all adults over the age of 65. Roughly 17% of hospice residents are diagnosed with dementia. Alzheimer’s ubiquity and devastating impact is also a source of intense emotional trauma to the loved ones of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and all other dementia, who are vulnerable to forgetting memories and relationships; and WHEREAS, The millions of people in America suffering from Alzheimer’s are supported by an even larger cohort of caregivers, including some 12 million people who, annually, provide 831 million hours of unpaid care to loved ones at a value of about $15.9 billion. The total estimated annual economic cost of Alzheimer’s is on order of $384 billion in 2025, and expected to rise to $1 trillion by 2050; and WHEREAS, Many caregivers are themselves suffering from chronic conditions ,76.6% reported chronic health problems, and 32.5% reported suffering from depression. Medicaid will reimburse $4.4 billion in Alzheimer’s-associated costs in 2025, with possible federal funding cuts putting even more strain on Alzheimer’s care. Medicare spent an average…