For Immediate Release | July 31, 2018

Representative Rice Introduces Bill to Increase Access to Services for People Living with Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s.

U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice today announced at the Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center headquarters in Westbury, NY, that she will introduce the Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Parity Act. This bill would amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to serve individuals who are under the age of 60, but living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease or other degenerative diseases. Representative Rice was joined by representatives from Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center, The Alzheimer’s Association and Sid Jacobson JCC.

Also speaking at the press conference was Karen Henley (a NY-04 resident) who said that she had nowhere to turn when her husband was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 36. Programs from the Town of North Hempstead Services for the Aging were just not available to her and her family, as her husband did not meet the age criteria. Under the current Older Americans Act, one has to be 65 years of age or older to qualify for any of the home- and/or community-based programs.

Tori Cohen, Executive Director of Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center, noted, “This bill is vital as it will provide much-needed relief to families coping with Alzheimer’s disease here on Long Island and across the nation. A change in the age criteria for assistance would enable more people to take advantage of two unique programs only Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center offers. Our In-Home Respite Program has proven to be an excellent entry point for families that are fearful of this disease and need assistance with a loved one, but right now under our Nassau County contract, the program can only be offered for those 65 and older. Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center has another exclusive program, our Weekend Drop-Off Program, that offers Saturday respite assistance for caregivers here at our center. U.S. Representative Rice’s bill would be especially welcome as it would provide an opportunity for the younger working caregivers of younger-onset individuals to get a much-needed break on the weekend, knowing that their loved ones are safe at our center.”

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About Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center 

For 30 years, Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center has been providing supportive community-based services to Alzheimer’s families on Long Island. Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center offers critically needed social adult day programs for individuals facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, along with services for caregivers. Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center takes considerable pride in its pioneering role in the development of cutting edge programs that foster the independence, dignity, well-being and safety of individuals with Alzheimer’s. Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center is now located in a new state-of-the-art center at 1025 Old Country Road in Westbury. This central Long Island location provides Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia Center the opportunity to bring services and programs more easily to those who need them. For information call (516) 767-6856 or visit www.lidementia.org.