Colonel Thomas G. Bowden Memorial Act SB 1749/ HB 1686 Alzheimer's & Dementia Respite Care Pilot Program Alzheimer's Association On January 15th, 2020, the state Alzheimer's Advisory Council submitted its 2020 Alzheimer's and Dementia state plan. Among the recommendations laid forth by the plan was the need to support those living alone with Alzheimer's and those individuals providing care in-home for a loved one with Alzheimer's. Proposed as a pilot, S.B 17 49/H.B. 1686, the Alzheimer's and Dementia Respite Care Program will provide respite care for those living with Alzheimer's or dementia in Tennessee. Senator Shane Reeves and Representative Ryan Williams are sponsoring this bill. Alzheimer's Disease in Tennessee Tennessee has the 4th highest Alzheimer's death rate in the U.S. More than 120,000 Tennesseans are currently living with Alzheimer's or a related dementia More than 3 57.000 Tennesseans are providing unpaid care for a loved one with Alzheimer's or other dementia Alzheimer's and dementia care cost TennCare $1.109 billion in 2020 LIVING ALONE WITH ALZHEIMER'S Among all Americans with Alzheimer's, about 850,000-more than 1 out of 7-live alone IMPACT ON FAMILIES Alzheimer's disease has a devastating impact not just on those with the disease. It's also an extreme burden on their caregivers-a job that usually falls on family and friends. The lifetime cost of dementia is estimated to be $350,000, including the value of unpaid caregiving. Families shoulder 70 percent of these costs. On average. a family spends more than $10,000 to pay the out-of-pocket health care costs of a senior with Alzheimer's or another dementia every year. This is more than four times greater than the average annual out-of-pocket costs of seniors without dementia. COLONEL THOMAS G. BOWDEN This bill is named in memoriam of Retired Colonel Thomas G. Bowden. Colonel Bowden was born and raised in Tullahoma, was a Distinguished Military Graduate of MTSU and dedicated 26 years of service to the United States Army. A graduate of the Army War College and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal among other awards; he was a former commander of over 900 soldiers with responsibility for 36 nuclear capable Pershing II Missile launchers. He served two assignments at the Pentagon and commanded at the brigade level. Colonel Bowden was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 63 and lost his life to the disease at age 68. This act serves as a testament to Colonel Bowden's life as well as a tribute to the loving care provided by his wife of 46 years, Barbara. Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregiving Caring for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias is highly intimate, intrusive and burdensome. Nearly 80 percent of older adults with dementia receive help with a daily personal care activity such as bathing, dressing, grooming or eating. About one-third of Alzheimer's caregivers deal with incontinence or diapers. For caregivers of older adults without dementia, just 12 percent help with this personal care task. Caregivers of people with dementia are twice as likely to report substantial emotional, financial and physical difficulties as caregivers of people without dementia. Projected Cost Savings to Tennessee: Current cost of Alzheimer's and dementia care to TN: $1.109 billion 60% of nursing home costs are paid for by TennCare Delaying nursing home admission for two months for the enrollees of this program = $1,174,824 savings to state