00            CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 13(HSS)                                                             
01 Supporting senior caregivers and encouraging the Department of Health and Social                                        
02 Services to provide additional education on the effects of aging and the importance of                                  
03 senior caregivers.                                                                                                      
04 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
05       WHEREAS, every day, an estimated 23 people in Alaska turn 60; and                                               
06       WHEREAS an estimated 52,620 people, or 7.5 percent of the state's population, are                               
07 65 years of age or older; and                                                                                           
08       WHEREAS the population in the state that is 65 years of age or older is expected to                             
09 increase by 155 percent in the next 20 years to 134,391 in 2030; and                                                    
10       WHEREAS the population in the state that is 85 years of age or older is projected to                            
11 reach 12,476 in 2030; and                                                                                               
12       WHEREAS approximately 5,700 people who are 65 years of age or older and 7,190                                   
13 people who are 55 years of age or older in the state have Alzheimer's disease or a related                              
14 disorder, and it is estimated that 14,170 people will have Alzheimer's disease or a related                             
15 disorder by 2030; and                                                                                                   

01       WHEREAS 70 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder live at                             
02 home and need assistance with activities of daily living; and                                                           
03       WHEREAS more than 25 percent of all seniors need some level of assistance with                                  
04 activities of daily living; and                                                                                         
05       WHEREAS, in order to address the surging population of seniors who have                                         
06 significant needs for in-home care, the field of senior caregiving will continue to grow; and                           
07       WHEREAS an estimated 14,539 adults in the state provide care to individuals with                                
08 Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder, which equates to an estimated 12,000,000 hours and                           
09 an approximated value of $140,000,000 each year; and                                                                    
10       WHEREAS an estimated 96,800 adults in the state provide care to adult relatives or                              
11 friends, and an estimated 1,595 adults provide paid senior care to nonrelatives; and                                    
12       WHEREAS the longer seniors are able to provide for themselves, the less the public                              
13 payment systems supported by state and federal governments are burdened;                                                
14       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature                                                                
15            (1)  recognizes senior caregiving as a profession;                                                           
16            (2)  supports the private home care industry and the efforts of family caregivers                            
17 statewide by encouraging individuals to provide care to family, friends, and neighbors;                                 
18            (3)  encourages accessible and affordable care for seniors;                                                  
19            (4)  will review state policies and support current state programs that address                              
20 the needs of seniors and senior caregivers;                                                                             
21            (5)  encourages the Department of Health and Social Services to continue to                                  
22 provide additional education on the effects of aging and the importance and availability of                             
23 senior caregivers to meet personal needs.