The grim numbers around Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving

You may have noted the 2008 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report that was released last week by the Alzheimer’s Association. Most of the news organizations that covered the report focused in on the shocking statistic on the cover: “10 million U.S. baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease.” So, as usual, the Baby Boomers were the center of the story in the Boomer-dominated media, but I was more interested in some of the facts buried inside the report related to caregiving for someone with Alzheimer’s. I’ve always thought that in many ways Alzheimer’s disease is the worst-case scenario of caregiving. In severe cases, people with Alzheimer’s may need bathing, dressing, feeding and constant watching by their caregiver. They may have challenging behavioral problems, such as wandering or unpredictable emotional outbursts. For their caregivers, the burden can be completely overwhelming, taking up huge amounts of time and effort, frustrating career goals, reducing income, and sapping their health and spirit. Then there is the mounting grief as they watch their loved one’s personality gradually be effaced by the disease. Some of the report highlights (if that’s the word): • More than 40 percent of family and other unpaid caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high. • About one-third of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias have symp...
Source: Caregiver Notes - Category: Caregivers Authors: Tags: Alzheimer's disease Caregiver lifestyle Caregiver's resources Caregiver's role Caregiving support Dementia Senior Health baby-boomers blog blogger caregiver blog Crohn's disease healthcare jeff muise statistics Source Type: blogs