Editor,

I’m an octogenarian, living on Whidbey Island and working with “South Whidbey at Home,” a volunteer effort to keep elders in their homes, in charge of their own lives and in contact with this community. That all adds up to being terribly aware of all the people who are dealing with dementia, in themselves or in their loved ones.

Dementia is a scourge that must be deciphered and a cure found. Until that fine day, the many victims and those taking care of them need serious assistance, ending with hospice care in the end stages of this devastating disease.

Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in America, costing more than $236 billion in 2016. Since none of the care provided slows the disease’s progression, precious lives and scarce resources are simply vanishing. We must increase annual funding for National Institutes of Health research on Alzheimer’s –- currently just below $1 billion. This is a crucial investment in our nation’s well being.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a bill adding $400 million to that figure. The House should do the same.

For those who have been diagnosed early, well-informed financial, legal and medical planning greatly 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 also saving public funds.

Congressman Rick Larsen, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Sen. Maria Cantwell are very supportive of Alzheimer’s legislation — you can see the details at www.alz.org/advocate. I thank them all and urge them now to vote for adding $400 million for Alzheimer’s research and, also, to cosponsor H.R. 3119/S. 2748, which will increase the availability of palliative care and hospice assistance to those who are stricken. We must do this.

Ann Medlock

Clinton