00Enrolled SCR 13                                                                                                         
01 Supporting senior caregivers and encouraging the Department of Health and Social Services                               
02 to provide additional education on the effects of aging and the importance of senior                                    
03 caregivers.                                                                                                             
04                                        _______________                                                                  
05 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
06      WHEREAS, every day, an estimated 23 people in Alaska turn 60; and                                                
07      WHEREAS an estimated 52,620 people, or 7.5 percent of the state's population, are                                
08 years of age or older; and                                                                                              
09      WHEREAS the population in the state that is 65 years of age or older is expected to                              
10 increase by 155 percent in the next 20 years to 134,391 in 2030; and                                                    
11      WHEREAS the population in the state that is 85 years of age or older is projected to                             
12 reach 12,476 in 2030; and                                                                                               
13      WHEREAS approximately 5,700 people who are 65 years of age or older and 7,190                                    
14 people who are 55 years of age or older in the state have Alzheimer's disease or a related                              
15 disorder, and it is estimated that 14,170 people will have Alzheimer's disease or a related                             
16 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.