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People with stories of caring for someone with dementia spoke before state legislators Thursday morning. They expressed support for adding $1.5 million to Montana’s budget for families touched by Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Roughly $93,000 of that could unfold within Flathead County, according to the local Agency on Aging.

Richard Blank, a retired physician, described the mounting stress he faced throughout the decade he acted as a primary caregiver to his wife. She was diagnosed with an early onset form of dementia in her 50s.

“There’s simply no better person to care for someone with cognitive decline than someone who loves them,” Blank said.

But to do the job well, Blank said caregivers need support — they need education, respite and a community with resources to tap into.

“The unpredictability is what drags you down,” he said before describing how his wife slowly began to look at him as a stranger further into her diagnosis. “As a retired physician, I kind of knew what was going on, and let me tell you, it was hard.”

Gov. Steve Bullock proposed a budget that boosts spending on assistance programs for the elderly by roughly $1.5 million over the next two years.

The money would go toward services that helps aging Montanans remain independent and supports caregivers working to keep their loved at home. Most of it would be funneled through the state’s 10 Area Agencies on Aging, like Flathead County Agency on Aging.

Lynn Mullowney Cabrera, the executive director of the state chapter Alzheimer’s Association, told the Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee Thursday morning “there is no slow down in sight” for the number of people with forms of dementia.

“We are here because we understand the gravity of this situation,” she said. “The individuals who have it, they can’t be here. Over a period of frequently many many years, the disease will take their voices. Their family caregivers can’t be here, they are exhausted.”

There are roughly 50,000 people in the state caring for the 19,000 Montanans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. By 2025, there will be more than 27,000 people in Montana with some form of dementia, according to the association.

Cabrera said because of that, strengthening support for Montanans trying to manage the disease should be a priority this legislative session.

“If everyone in this room were 85 years old, approximately half of us in the room would have dementia and approximately the other half would be their caregivers,” she said.

The $1.5 million could also come in the form of House Bill 36, which seeks additional funding toward services related to Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. However, the bill specifies the money would go through the state’s Area Agencies on Aging. Thursday morning, many speakers advocated for linking the language of the two proposals for the $1.5 million request.

Lisa Sheppard, the director of Flathead County Agency on Aging, said the funding would increase their budget.

“It could go towards providing more people with home delivered meals, light household chores, transportation,” Sheppard said. “Really, whatever it is that would help keep someone in their home, whether that’s an individual or a family supporting a loved one.”

Bullock’s budget proposal includes spending $120,000 in state money to extend the state’s Lifespan Respite Program. The federally funded program is set to expire this year.

Sheppard said the funding in the governor’s budget would eventually save the state money by delaying or preventing costly and unnecessary institutionalization.

“The payoff is so much more than what we’re asking for now,” she said.

Sen. Bob Keenan, R-Bigfork, sits on the subcommittee. He said executive action on Bullock’s $1.5 million proposal most likely won’t take place for another two weeks as legislatures continue to hear public testimony regarding the entire budget.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.