A.G. Gancarski
Alzheimer’s disease continues to plague Floridians, and two House members from different parties look to redouble state efforts to fight it.
On Monday, Rep. Matt Willhite, a Wellington Democrat, filed HB 835 with Longwood Republican Rep. Scott Plakon.
The bill would create the Office of Alzheimer’s Disease within the Department of Elder Affairs.
“I am proud to be working again on this important cause with my colleague, Scott Plakon,” Willhite said.
“Last year we were fortunate enough to pass another piece of legislation related to Alzheimer’s disease, but there is always more work to be done,” Willhite added.
Indeed, Willhite and Plakon have collaborated before on legislation to help Alzheimer’s patients.
“Alzheimer’s disease touches the lives of 560,000 Floridians, and that does not include the individuals who act as caretakers to their loved ones. Therefore, I am excited to strengthen the Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee and see the establishment of the Office of Alzheimer’s Disease within the Department of Elderly Affairs,” Willhite concluded.
Plakon, whose wife had the disease before passing away in 2018, said he was “honored to work with Representative Willhite and many other of our colleagues in a bipartisan effort to help the 560,000 Florida families that have been devastated by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.”
“The legislation that we are introducing today will help to position Florida as a national leader as we tackle how we, as a state, can provide services for our constituents who currently live with this disease and the 1.1 million caregivers that sacrifice so much,” Plakon added.
One comment
Cogent Observer
December 2, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Why should there be a (presumably supported at taxpayer’s expense) Office of Alzheimer’s Disease? Add more bureaucracy? Another feel-good measure on which to campaign? Capture the elderly vote?
There exist a multitude of “worthwhile” diseases that afflict many and take a toll on families. How about Parkinson’s Disease or Multiple Sclerosis? They are disabling too and afflict a wide swath of the population–of all ages and, presumably, political persuasions.
Is this agency, on a state level, going to conduct medical research (like NIH) or just push paper and attract political patronage?
Sorry to sound sour, but politics like this accomplishes nothing.
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