{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400710", "Smith Delivers Remarks on Alzheimers Caregiving at Capitol Hill Briefing", "2017-11-08", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "November is National Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Awareness Month, and among the many events organized to raise awareness about this disease and the need for more support for patients and caregivers was a briefing on Capitol Hill hosted by a coalition of non-government organizations dedicated to improving treatments and one day finding a cure for Alzheimer\u2019s.\r\nThe event, sponsored by the Gerontological Society of America, the AARP in partnership with the John A. Hartford Foundation, the Alzheimer\u2019s Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving, accomplished exactly this in highlighting personal stories of caregiving by members of Congress. Members shared their family\u2019s own experience with caring for a loved one battling Alzheimers.\r\nRep. Chris Smith, the founding co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer\u2019s Disease, updated the group on legislation he is championing to assist caregivers, and then delivered the following remarks on his experience in caring for his mother who struggled with signs of Alzheimer\u2019s and with brain cancer:\r\nIn 1996 my mother was diagnosed with brain cancer and with early signs of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and lived with my family for almost a year.\r\nDespite having broken hearts over her ordeal\u2014brain surgery at UPenn, a long recuperation and mental confusion\u2014we absolutely cherished her living with us.\r\nMy wife Marie\u2014the primary caregiver\u2014was a saint.\r\nNothing was too much for Marie, including 24/7 monitoring\u2014and a baby monitor in her room and ours\u2014ensuring the timely and accurate taking of medicine, doctor visits and reassurances that, \u201cMom you are not a burden, we love you and there is no other place on earth we would want you to be than with us.\u201d\r\nWe had many sleepless nights. Twice EMT was called for medical emergencies. The brain cancer eclipsed the progression of Alzheimer\u2019s, so the tell-tale forgetfulness was still in the early stage.\r\nDuring one emergency hospitalization at Fox Chase, my mother looked up at us and said: \u201cI thought I was lost and you would never find me.\u201d\r\nWhen she went to a Hospice, my wife, brothers and I were with her around the clock. \r\nMy mother had a strong faith in God and always put family first.\r\nShe was a successful businesswoman and along with my dad\u2014a WWII combat veteran\u2014founded and ran their own small business. She had a penchant for math and numbers\u2014and did all the books\u2014but in the final year had trouble writing a check.\r\nMy mother\u2019s extraordinary faith, love, goodness, empathy for others and courage during this crisis inspire my family and me to this day.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400710"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4642339665442705, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}