CONGRESSMAN BISHOP PRESENTS $1,020,047 CHECK TO ROSALYN CARTER INSTITUTE TO HELP FAMILIES COPING WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
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March 31, 2023
AMERICUS, GA – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) presented a ceremonial check to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI) which represents the $1,020,047 in federal funding that he secured as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 funding bill. The funding will be used to expand support for and increase awareness of Georgia Alzheimer's caregivers through RCI's Dealing with Dementia program. The big check presentation took place at RCI which is located on the Georgia Southwestern State University campus in Americus, Georgia.
"Millions of Americans, including families across Georgia, care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. Oftentimes, these individuals must provide care but lack formal medical training or familiarity with the medical conditions their loved ones face," said Congressman Bishop. "First Lady Rosalynn Carter founded the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers nearly thirty-five years ago. I am glad to have secured these federal funds so that the Institute's wonderful healthcare experts, physicians, and social welfare advocates can continue their work, providing much needed support to family caregivers."
"Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Bishop, we are one step closer to better engaging diverse caregivers, particularly communities of color, with the kinds of culturally competent resources, training, and support they deserve," said Dr. Jennifer Olsen, Chief Executive Officer at the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. "In Georgia alone, there are over 300,000 family caregivers supporting someone with Alzheimer's – a disproportionate number of whom are people of color. Despite being overrepresented within the caregiver community, people of color – particularly Black Americans – are significantly less likely to have access to formal caregiving supports for their own physical, mental, and financial wellbeing. This critical funding will help change that."
According to the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, prepared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through its Administration for Community Living, family caregivers lose over $520 billion in wages each year due to caregiving, and employers lose over $30 billion/year due to employees' caregiving responsibilities. Family caregivers also suffer from higher rates of depression than non-caregivers of the same age. According to the same report, in 2019 there were at least 53 million people providing informal, usually unpaid, caregiving, and this number will likely increase in the years to come.
Last year, Congressman Bishop secured $1.1 million as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 federal funding bill for the Rosalynn Carter Institute to better manage, collect, analyze, and share data with its many community partners and stakeholders. This year's award is a continuation of RCI's and Congressman Bishop's mission to improve the quality of life for both our loved ones with dementia and their caregivers.
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Congressman Bishop presents a ceremonial "big check" in Americus, GA, to the Rosalynn Carter Institute which represents the $1,020,047 the Congressman secured in federal funds to help RCI improve Alzheimer's caregiving.
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