Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 105 Part 2.djvu/91

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PUBLIC LAW 102-160—NOV. 13, 1991 105 STAT. 1043 Public Law 102-160 102d Congress Joint Resolution To designate the months of November 1991, and November 1992, as "National Nov. 13, 1991 Alzheimer's Disesise Month". [S.J. Res. 36] Whereas over 4 million United States citizens are affected by Alzheimer's disease, a surprisingly common degenerative disease which attacks the brain, impairs memory and thinking, alters behavior, and renders its victims incapable of self care; Whereas it is estimated that by the middle of the 21st century, Alzheimer's disease will strike 14 million United States citizens, affecting one in every three families; Whereas Alzheimer's disease is not a normal consequence of aging, but a disorder of the brain for which no cause has been determined and no treatment or cure has been found; Whereas Alzheimer's disease is the quintessential long-term care problem, requiring constant full-time care for its victims, who can suffer from the disease for 8 to 20 years, at a total annual cost to the Nation of at least $90 billion; Whereas families of Alzheimer's patients bear the overwhelming physical, emotional, and financial burden of care, and neither public programs, including medicare, nor private insurance provide protection for most of these families; Whereas 80 percent of all Alzheimer's patients receive care in their own homes; Whereas nearly half of all residents of nursing homes suffer from Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia; and Whereas increased national awareness of Alzheimer's disease and recognition of national organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association may stimulate increased commitment to long-term care services to support Alzheimer's patients and their families and a greater investment in research to discover methods to prevent the disease, delay its onset, and eventually to find a cure for the disease: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the months of