If you’ve ever lost your keys or glasses, you’ve probably joked about getting old and getting Alzheimer’s. Go ahead, admit it. Sometimes, it’s easier to joke about something than to really face the severity of the condition. September is designated as World Alzheimer’s Month to open the dialogue about dementia and other memory conditions that occur in predominantly the elderly. It’s estimated that about 5.4 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s, and that figure is expected to triple by 2050. Currently, there is no cure, but there are a lot of resources and support available to improve the life of a person with dementia.
Identifying Dementia
Dementia often comes on gradually, and it starts with being forgetful or losing track of a time or place. Many people wrongly assume that these symptoms are just part of aging. When these problems affect the daily life of someone, it’s time to talk to a doctor and get professional help. Although Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, there are other reasons a person might lose mental faculties.
As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more pronounced. In addition to being forgetful, a person might also experience behavioral changes or need help with personal care. Some even get lost in their own home. In the later stages of Alzheimer’s, one may be totally dependent on caregivers. Although there is no cure for dementia, early diagnosis promotes optimal management of the disease.
Researchers have been studying dementia for a number of years and have yet to identify all the risk factors. There is a lot that is unknown about Alzheimer’s disease, but because it affects so many people worldwide, there are many people working on understanding how the disease develops. It’s believed that multiple factors cause a person to develop the disease. It’s not only the elderly who are at risk, but they are predominantly affected by dementia.
The Cost of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia affect the entire family. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that almost 16 million family and friends provided 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care to individuals with Alzheimer’s. Two-thirds of these people were women. It’s estimated that caregivers lose about $15,000 annually in their own income because they are providing care. About 40 percent of caregivers suffer from depression themselves, and 20 percent of the caregivers do not visit the doctor because they are involved in so many care responsibilities for a loved one.
Nationally, the cost is even higher. Medicare and Medicaid cover about 68 percent of the heath care costs for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Currently, that figure is about $160 billion annually. By 2050, it’s estimated that Alzheimer’s will cost more than $1 trillion annually. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the cost of dementia is about 1.0 percent of the worldwide gross domestic product or about $604 billion.
A recent survey by the Alzheimer’s Association found that families do not understand which expenses Medicare and Medicaid cover. These families are not prepared to handle the costs associated with the disease. It places a tremendous burden on the family when a loved one needs 24/7 care. Some families are going without medication and food simply to make sure their loved one is cared for.
If you’re dealing with Alzheimer’s and need resources, look for the Aging Council in your community or contact the Alzheimer’s Association for assistance in finding someone who can help you. If you know someone who is a caregiver for a loved one with dementia, ask how you can help. And if you are facing the possibility that you might someday get dementia, talk to your family now about how to manage things. Open a dialogue now to help your family be ready.