HJR500 Summary

• Recognizes that an estimated 5.5 million Americans live with Alzheimer's dementia in 2017, with 5.3 million age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 individuals under age 65 with younger-onset Alzheimer's.

• Acknowledges Alzheimer's dementia as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only top 10 cause that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed.

• Congratulates the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC), the Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Emergency Medical Services (ADPH-OEMS), and the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission (AFCPSC) for their willingness to recognize the importance of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia awareness training.

• Encourages these three agencies to include Alzheimer's and related dementia awareness training in basic academy certification training for emergency medical providers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters to improve their understanding of common behaviors and response strategies.

• Supports making such training available for in-service training and as part of annual continuing education requirements.