Complete Article from Alzheimer’s Weekly:
There are 5.3 million Americans living with the disease and every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease. By mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer’s every 33 seconds. In 2010, there will be a half million new cases of Alzheimer’s, and there will be more new cases in each subsequent year. In 2050, there will be nearly a million new cases.
Alzheimer’s was the seventh leading cause of death in the country in 2006, the latest year for which final death statistics are available. It was the fifth leading cause of death among individuals aged 65 and older. From 2000-2006 death rates have declined for most major diseases – heart disease (-11.1 percent), breast cancer (-2.6 percent), prostate cancer (-8.7 percent), stroke (-18.2 percent) and HIV/AIDS (-16.3) while Alzheimer’s disease deaths rose 46.1 percent.
“Strategic investments in research for diseases such as heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, stroke and HIV/AIDS have all resulted in declines in deaths. We have not seen the same type of significant strategic investment in Alzheimer’s and because of that, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease continue to soar,” said Johns. “Discovering effective treatments that prevent onset or delay disease progression takes on an all encompassing urgency as the nation braces for an onslaught of aging baby boomers. This disease, unlike any other, has the power to undermine all of our best efforts to control health care costs.”
People with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are high users of hospital, nursing home and other health and long term care services, translating into high costs for all payers. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that total payments for health and long-term care services for people with these conditions will amount to $172 billion from all sources in 2010. Medicare costs are almost three times higher for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias than for other older people, and Medicaid costs are almost nine times higher. Most people with Alzheimer’s also have one or more additional serious medical conditions, such as diabetes or coronary heart disease. Their Alzheimer’s greatly complicates medical management for these other conditions, resulting in more hospitalizations and higher costs.
Impact of Alzheimer’s and Dementia on Caregivers
According to the new report, in 2009, nearly 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided 12.5 billion hours of care for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, an amount of unpaid care valued at $144 billion. In fact, Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers provided care valued at more than $1 billion in each of 36 states, and nine states saw an Alzheimer and dementia caregiver contribution valued at $5 billion or more per state.
“Alzheimer’s disease often progresses in a slow, unrelenting pace exacting a tremendous emotional, physical and financial toll on caregivers. Every day these caregivers rise to meet the challenges of Alzheimer’s,” said Robert J. Egge, Alzheimer’s Association Vice President of Public Policy. “The uncompensated care they provide is valued at $144 billion, which is more than the Federal government spends on Medicare and Medicaid combined for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.”
More than 40 percent of family and other unpaid Alzheimer and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high, compared with 28 percent of caregivers of other older people. Caregivers often report a decline in their own health as they try to balance the demands of caregiving with their own work responsibilities. In 2009, 60 percent of Alzheimer and dementia caregivers were employed full-time or part-time and among those employed, two-thirds said they had to go in late, leave early or take time off because of caregiving; 14 percent had to take a leave of absence and 10 percent had to reduce their hours or take a less demanding job. Juggling the demands of caregiving, particularly in these financially difficult times, has placed additional stress on caregivers as their caregiving duties threaten their own job security.
Ultimately solving the Alzheimer crisis – with its far-reaching impact on families, Medicare, Medicaid and the health care system – will mean addressing the chronic underinvestment in research. A rapidly aging population and dramatic increases in the number of Alzheimer cases in coming years should catapult the government into action. “We know what the future will bring if we do nothing – more lives lost, overloaded nursing homes, overworked caregivers and an overwhelmed health care system,” said Egge. “Our country must increase its investment in research and scientific innovation if we hope to soon live in a world together with Alzheimer survivors.”
http://www.alz.org/documents_custom/report_alzfactsfigures2010.pdf
Alzheimers is a serious disease that afflicts over a million people every year.And to protect seniors from them,we have to choose a right place and right senior house for them.