The Alzheimer's Association applauds Congress for renewing the Older Americans Act (OAA) to provide new help for families taking care of younger persons with Alzheimer’s disease. A key provision in the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 (HR 6197), extends the existing National Family Caregiver Support Program and for the first time allows the program to provide supportive services, including caregiving training, respite care and counseling, to individuals caring for persons with early onset Alzheimer’s disease (those under age 65).

The Association also commends the efforts of Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-Ohio) and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who were the lead sponsors of the early-onset language, one of the first public policy changes to benefit those with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

"Seniors today are living longer, healthier lives. We must do what we can to help them be as independent and active as possible, and provide the resources necessary to meet new challenges," Mikulski said. "By passing the OAA, we have honored one of the responsibilities we have to our seniors. Promises made when the OAA was created must be promises kept."

Family caregivers of people with early onset Alzheimer’s face enormous problems, but few programs are available to assist them. A report issued by the Alzheimer’s Association earlier this year estimates that there may be as many as half a million persons with early-onset Alzheimer’s in the United States. This report also recommended that family caregivers of people with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease be eligible for services funded through the National Family Caregiver Support Program.

At a congressional hearing in April, Alzheimer advocates testified in support of expanding the family caregiver program to allow services for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s under age 65.

“This legislation is good news for those with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers and our senior population as a whole,” said Tiberi, the measure’s author. “The bipartisan approach we took in putting it together represents Congress at its best.”

The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides federal dollars to all 50 states to expand and enhance existing caregiver support services for family caregivers of people aged 60 and older. The caregiver program was created by legislation passed by Congress in 2000.

In addition to extending supportive services to caregivers of persons with early onset Alzheimer’s, the OAA renewal bill authorizes additional funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program. Expansion of the caregiver program is a key legislative priority for the Alzheimer’s Association this year.