About Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is not a normal part of aging. Every day Alzheimer’s strips people of who they are; their memories, their dignity, their independence. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Alzheimer’s ends lives prematurely, but not before it takes everything else away first. If you aren’t already, it’s time to get Angry at Alzheimer’s.
Fact: More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s today.
Fact: Every 70 seconds someone develops this disease. In 2050 it will be every 33 seconds, unless we find a cure.
The Financial and Personal Impact of Alzheimer’s
- In 2013 Alzheimer’s cost the nation 203 Billion dollars.
- This number is expected to rise to 1.2 Trillion in 2050.
- Caring for people with Alzheimer’s will cost ALL payers – private insurance, HMOs Medicare, Medicaid, and individuals.
- Cumulative costs for all payers over a 40 year period will be $20 trillion dollars, enough to pay off the national debt and still send a $10,000 check to every man, woman and child in America.
- Consider the financial burden this will have on each of us.
- The Impact on Each of Us. It’s not just Financial, It’s Personal.
- It’s not just those with the disease who suffer – it’s their families, caregivers and friends.
- In 2011, 15.2 million family members and friends provided unpaid care valued at over $210 billion. Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s is more personal and intrusive, takes longer, lasts longer, and takes a heavier toll on the health of the caregivers themselves. More than 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high, with one-third reporting symptoms of depression.
