DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 205

DIRECTING THE DELAWARE DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO DEVELOP A PLAN CONDUCTING A STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH OUTREACH CAMPAIGN RELATED TO ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE OR RELATED DEMENTIAS.

WHEREAS, more than 23,300 Delawareans suffer from Alzheimer's Disease, and that number is estimated to more than triple by the year 2050; and

WHEREAS, nearly one out of every three seniors who die each year suffer from some form of dementia; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's Disease is a serious public health crisis that affects those who have it, their families and the 31,000 caregivers throughout Delaware, and the entire state; and

WHEREAS, the severity of this health crisis necessitates a comprehensive public outreach campaign directed towards all healthcare providers and that can reach communities of seniors across our state to mitigate, educate, and plan for the possible future of dementia. This campaign should include Alzheimer’s Disease resources, services, and care measures, and possible treatments and paths to diagnosis in order to ensure the state is prepared to handle the looming crisis of this disease; and

WHEREAS, this health crisis has a significant fiscal impact on the State of Delaware, which is estimated to keep increasing, currently costing $253 million in Medicaid alone each year; and

WHEREAS, Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia negatively impact the health and quality of life of Delawareans.

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Delaware Division of Public Health shall develop and release a strategic plan to implement a comprehensive statewide public health outreach campaign to assess trends, possible public messaging, cost of messaging and delivery to communities of need, service needs, resources, and strategies to educate all healthcare providers on Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias no later than November 1, 2024.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Delaware Department of Health shall identify its role and responsibilities in the development, release, and implementation of the plan, as well as the role and responsibilities of any of other relevant agency or entity.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Delaware Division of Public Health shall collaborate with stakeholders, including the Delaware Healthcare Association, the Medical Society of Delaware, the Delaware Nurses Association, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the Delaware Board of Nursing, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Delaware’s Long-Term Care Facilities, in the crafting this strategic plan and outreach initiatives.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Delaware Department of Public Health must include in its plan a summary of its strategy for identifying and pursuing federal funding opportunities, and a list of recommended actions that would better prepare the Delaware Division of Public Health to identify, apply, and compete for federal funding opportunities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no later than November 1, 2024, the Delaware Division of Public Health must submit this strategic plan for the public outreach campaign to all of the following: the Governor, all members of the General Assembly, the Controller General, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, with copies to the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, and the Delaware Public Archives.

SYNOPSIS

This Senate Concurrent Resolution directs the Delaware Division of Public Health to develop and release a strategic plan to implement a public health outreach campaign to assess trends, possible messaging, cost of messaging and delivery to communities of need, service needs, resources, and strategies to educate healthcare providers on Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias. In crafting the strategic plan, the Division of Public Health is directed to collaborate with various stakeholders, and the plan must include a strategy for identifying and pursuing federal funding opportunities. Finally, the Division of Public Health is directed to submit the strategic plan to the Governor, all members of the General Assembly, the Controller General, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget no later than November 1, 2024.

Author: Senator Mantzavinos