Cost & Caregiving Impact from Alzheimer’s Disease

According to the recently published, Alzheimer’s Association, 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures,  Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Volume 9, Issue 2

According to the recently published, Alzheimer’s Association, 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures,  Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Volume 9, Issue 2

• Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the US
• Alzheimer’s disease is also the only leading cause of death without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression.
• 1 in 3 seniors dies from Alzheimer’s or another dementia in the United States.
• More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
• Alzheimer’s deaths continue to rise — increasing 68 percent from 2000-2010.
• An estimated 450,000 people in the United States will die with Alzheimer’s.
• Among 70-year-olds with Alzheimer’s disease, 61 percent are expected to die within a decade.
• Among 70-year-olds without Alzheimer’s, only 30 percent will die within a decade.
• By 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease could reach 13.8 million.
• Despite these staggering figures today, by 2050 total costs will increase 500 percent to $1.2 trillion.

Caregiving Impact

The burden on the nation’s health care system and government programs is also enormous.

• Alzheimer’s and dementia place an enormous burden on individuals and families.
• In 2012, more than 15 million caregivers provided more than 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $216 billion.
• Persons with dementia often require increasing levels of supervision and personal care as the disease progresses.
• The care required of family members and friends as dementia progresses can often result in increased emotional stress and health challenges for caregivers.
• Due to the physical and emotional toll of caregiving, Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers had $9.1 billion in additional health care costs of their own in 2012.
• Health and long-term care services for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will total $203 billion in 2013,
  • the lion’s share of which will be borne by Medicare and Medicaid with combined costs of $142 billion.
  • 15 % of caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia are “long-distance caregivers” — caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease who live at least 1 hour away.
  • Long-distance caregivers had annual out-of-pocket expenses nearly twice as high as local caregivers — $9,654 compared to $5,055.

Support

• The Alzheimer’s Association offers a 24/7, toll-free Helpline (1.800.272.3900), care consultation and online resources to assist families with the care management of someone living with Alzheimer’s regardless of geography.
• ALZConnected™,  is a social networking community by the Alzheimer’s Association for people with Alzheimer’s, caregivers and others affected by the disease to share questions and form new connections.
• Alzheimer’s Navigator™ helps patients, caregivers and family members with customized action plan information, support and resources. It also provides a comprehensive database of housing and care options, programs and services, and legal experts, allowing users to quickly search, find and access support.

 image:Alzheimers/shutterstock