Caregiving can be an emotionally, physically and financially draining role. Across Washington state, there are more than 335,000 people providing unpaid care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias. In 2016 alone, those caregivers provided an estimated 382 million hours of care, valued at $4.8 billion. Our family served as caregivers for my dad, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease for at least five years.
I am proud to advocate for the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act, now moving through the U.S. Senate as Senate Bill 1028. This bipartisan bill would provide much needed support to our nation's caregivers.
The RAISE Family Caregivers Act is consistent with the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease, which seeks to expand and enhance training, education and support for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. Not all caregivers have the education and training necessary to ensure high quality of care to Alzheimer's patients, as was the case with my dad during the last six months of his life.
Please join me in thanking Senator Patty Murray for voting for the RAISE Family Caregivers Act in committee, and in urging Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers to support this needed legislation in the coming months.
Mark Newbold
Spokane, Wash.
Readers respond to "Meaning is Malleable" (6/22/17), one writer's thoughts on feelings of meaninglessness upon turning 30:
Eric Blauer: This is a profoundly sad article and its worldview, as expressed, motivates me to live my life more intentionally, expansively and deeply for the sake of the waymakers ahead. For me, I have found light that darkness cannot overcome.
Salynn Williams: Meaningless is being 30 and believing you've figured anything out.
MJ Wilde: Stereotyping millennials is as pointless and rude as stereotyping any other age group. Not everyone hates millennials, not all millennials think and feel like the writer, or at least not for as long a time. Some people are out here living their lives as the unique individuals they are. They get past their normal self-doubt, look at what they have going for them and try out things they want to do. They ignore the rubber stamp versions laid on them from the outside. Every generation has people like that, people who will read that article and not see themselves. ♦
