Alzheimer’s disease is an epidemic. Between the years 2000 and 2018, deaths from Alzheimer’s has increased 146%. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease are women. One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease. There are more than 16 million caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the United States. Fifty per cent of primary care physicians believe the medical profession is not ready for the growing number of people with Alzheimer's or other dementias. In 2019, more than 16 million caregivers caring for people living with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias provided an estimated 18.6 billion hours of unpaid care, a contribution to the nation valued at more than $244 billion.
A family caregiver can be a spouse, son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, friend, neighbor or partner that assist someone with an illness, disability or an elderly. The care that they provide may be as little as a few hours a week to providing care around the clock. The family caregiver providing care to a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease is faced with many challenges. It is not an easy task to care for a loved one that once cared for you. It can be the one who may have been the rock of the family, the provider, and the one you always turned to for support and comfort. At times it is difficult to accept that your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, some people act like they do not see the effect of the disease on their loved one’s mental and intellectual function as a way of not accepting that their loved one has the disease! “It is only old age, everyone forgets things, there are days that we are able to hold normal conversions, sometimes I think they know what they’re doing, they only act that way when they want their way, they are just stubborn”. Have you heard others speak this way about a family member with Alzheimer’s disease? Have you ever said these things yourself? Sometimes the statements mentioned above are also used as a form of denial! The success of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or, in fact any disease or disability, is to educate yourself about the disease and how to manage it. It is vital to set up a support systems, individuals or resources that you can turn to in times of need. Most of all, take a little time out for yourself.
Join us on Saturday, October 10, 2020 for a virtual Purple Sunday kick- off.
CEO Diane Cooper of COME with be the guest speaker.
Contact Alzheimer’s Ass. Hudson Valley Chapter link to register:
or call 800 272 3900 or email me at jmflores@alz.org
Contact us for a Caregivers Consultation
or to host a Caregivers panel Discussion
718-379-3159 Fax 718-379-3160
