November 24, 2021

 
President Joseph Biden
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
 
Dear Mr. President,
 
Envision being at the dinner table with your loved ones over a home-cooked meal and
suddenly, you begin to see the luster leave your wife’s eyes, as they now do not meet
yours.  She asks you to go “home,” even though you are already there.  You are scared
and unsure of the request, but assure her that she is home as you take her hand.  Every
day, this is a common story for some of your country’s families, especially now as our
population ages.  Those faced with Alzheimer’s and their caretakers are some of the
most vulnerable.  The reason for my letter today is because I first-hand witnessed the
financial struggle that my Aunt faced in taking care of my Uncle in his final days, battling
this terrible disease.  
Our brain is a wondrous, complex organ that controls your vision, speech, movement,
and even our hopes and dreams.  Sadly, though, it is also susceptible to over six hundred
diseases and disorders. (Alzheimer's Association, 2021) Alzheimer’s disease is the most
common neurodegenerative disorder that continues to affect more adults each year.  In
reading through the Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures, published just this year, it is projected
that we will see a 16% increase of dementia in some form by 2025, mostly due to the
baby boomer segment within America.  Studies have consistently shown that active
management of Alzheimer’s and other dementias can improve the quality of life of
affected individuals and their caregivers.  
As a financial professional in the debt settlement industry, my findings are that many of
my clients seek assistance because they are supporting an elderly parent or spouse, and
are unable to cover the out-of-pocket costs.  No American should be in a position of
choosing whether they should seek long-term medical care or not, but the sad truth is
that many are in that predicament.  Financial obligations placed on families range from
$28,000.00-$75,000.00 within 2015. (Mars, 2020)  National costs are comparable, and
in many cases, a greater expense than cancer.  While many believe that Medicare will
take care of these costs, they only help for emergency visits, not for long-term care
resources.  Statistics show that Americans are only one medical emergency away from
being in financial ruin.  Recognizing the enormity of this burden can aid Americans and
families to plan medical care for those with elderly family members, who may already be
on the onset of this disease.  Because of lack of planning and these resources currently
not being available, unpaid caregivers, like family and friends are providing much of the
care for the Alzheimer's patient.  The required support is intense and burdensome,
leading to anxiety and depression.  Community resources being available would also be a
huge asset--if you are able to appoint local officials to allocate funds and resources to
building this infrastructure, it would leverage much of the burden experienced by
families.  Changing the narrative from this being a personal battle to this being
something that we are “all in” will be a positive change. This increase of public awareness
detailing this financial impact and laying the foundation of preventive strategies are
crucial. As we look to the future, if we can redirect funding that was previously spent in
war-time agendas, to clinical research, we can reduce the number of those affected
altogether.
Visiting the sick can be a challenge, especially around the holidays, as you are seeing
someone who cannot participate as they once used to.  While we cannot mandate being
a kind human, through your words to our people, you can explain that our actions and
even more so, inactions, affect all.  If we had government-funded dedicated long-term
facilities for those whose Medicare does not cover, the burden would be off of the
family to provide care. We are called to solidarity, as our health and wellness is a shared
need for all. as well as a social responsibility.  In your address to our nation this week,
you advised sir, that “you will never stop working to address our families needs and
together we are going to confront challenges and do so honestly.”  As your cabinet has
already done this year in the continued fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, we need
to be compassionate for those most vulnerable because of dementia and Alzheimer's to
preserve the life and dignity of the human person.  Being that healthcare is a basic need
for all humans, my ask is that we increase the efforts and commitment towards fulfilling
it for the most vulnerable of your people.
I sincerely appreciate your attention and guidance in this world.  I know how hard you
and your cabinet have worked this past year in rebuilding our great nation to increase
jobs and to grow the economy in an uncertain world.  Yes, we continue to have an
ambitious path before you in the next three years of your term, but I have no doubt that
you are up to the task.  Eliminating the fear of costs of medical services should be an
agenda in every country around the world.  Progressing towards new research for
Alzheimer's and being a voice for families that do not have one will make our nation
continue to be greater.
 
Most Respectfully,

Pmela Vucinich
 
150 Pine Street
Rillton, PA 15678
pamela.vucinich@gmail.com

Mars, Laurs Dementia Handbook & Resource Guide. Grey House Publishing, Inc.
"Alzheimer's Disease Facts And Figures"  Alzheimer's Association, 2021