Assembly Approves Bills Targeting Alzheimer’s, Dementia

A package of bills aimed at treating and researching Alzheimer’s and dementia has cleared the state Assembly.

Among the plans is one that would increase funding by $1 million for respite care in Wisconsin and another that would fund a research grant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Rep. Mike Rohrkaste, R-Neenah, said that everyone has been touched by Alzheimer’s and dementia in some way. He told Assembly colleagues that his mother suffered from dementia and never got to know his children.

“If I have a hope out of these bills, it’s that maybe kids of other individuals will be able to know their mom or their grandma maybe better than what my kids were able to,” said Rohrkaste.

The Assembly also passed another package of bills aimed at improving mental health treatment in Wisconsin. Both packages now go to the Senate.