Support for legislation to improve Alzheimer's care

There are 244,000 people in Colorado caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. As someone who has served in this role, I am proud to support the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA).

Recently reintroduced in Congress, and supported by the Alzheimer's Association, PCHETA would ensure America has an adequate, well-trained palliative care and hospice workforce through worker training, education and awareness, and enhanced research. These are critical services for persons in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's. In fact, a number of studies have concluded that hospitalization is not recommended for individuals with advanced dementia given the life expectancy of the individual, the significant burdens of aggressive treatment, and the difficulty of pain management for those who cannot communicate in the hospital setting.

PCHETA will help ensure that the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer's have access to quality care and end-of-life services, making a devastating diagnosis slightly more manageable. Thanks to Rep. Diana DeGette and Sen. Michael Bennet for their active support of PCHETA and the 69,000 Coloradans living with Alzheimer's.

Ryann Peyton, Denver