To the editor:

I volunteer for a support group for caregivers of persons with dementia and work at Harrison Hospital where we see problems attributed to advanced dementia every day. Fellow Washingtonians who attended the recent Alzheimer’s Advocacy Forum in Washington, D.C. tell us it’s encouraging to know we are making progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

As a pharmacist for more than 30 years, I feel very strongly about the importance of Alzheimer’s research, care planning for people following a dementia diagnosis, and palliative and hospice care for patients in the end stages.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most expensive disease in America, costing over $236 billion in 2016. Since none of the care provided slows the disease’s progression, precious lives and scarce resources are simply vanishing. To increase annual funding for NIH research on Alzheimer’s — currently just below $1 billion — is a crucial investment. The Senate Appropriations Committee has just approved a bill adding $400 million to that figure. The House should do the same.

For those diagnosed early, well-informed financial, legal and medical planning drastically improves a dementia patient’s quality of life. For those in end stages, focusing on symptom management and reduction of pain and stress reduces unnecessary hospitalizations, sparing families trauma while saving public funds.

Congressman Derek Kilmer, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell have been very supportive of Alzheimer’s legislation, which is outlined at www.alz.org/advocate. I thank them and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 3119/S. 2748, which will increase availability of palliative care and hospice providers.

GAIL BOSCH

Bremerton