The Alzheimer’s Associationwill release the 2012 Alzheimer’sDisease Facts and Figures, on Thursday,March 8, detailing newinformation about Alzheimer’s, now the 6th leading cause of death in thenation and the only one in the top 10 in the country that cannot be prevented,cured or even slowed.
The report finds that caring for people withAlzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the United States an estimated $200billion in 2012. A significant cost driver for the health care system, Medicarepayments for an older person with Alzheimer’s or other dementias arenearly three times higher while Medicaid payments are 19 times higher than forseniors without these conditions.
Today there are an estimated 5.4 million individuals livingwith Alzheimer’s including as many as 60,000 here in Arkansas. With an aging baby boomer population, thecost to the nation and the number of individuals affected by the disease willonly soar in the coming years – to as many as 16 million by mid-century.
The new report also reveals that 800,000 people throughout the country haveAlzheimer’s and live alone. The report explores the challenges facingthese including being at greater risk for risk of self-neglect, of missed ordelayed diagnosis, and accidental death, possibly due to lack of recognition ofharmful situations and delays in seeking medical attention.
Every 68 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’sdisease, and the 2012 Alzheimer’sDisease Facts and Figures report featured the statistics thatillustrate the burden of the disease on individuals and their more than 15million friends and family members who provide, unpaid care valued at $210billion.
Jack Eaton, Senior Director of ArkansasOperations, with the Alzheimer’s Association isavailable to:
Ø Share with youthe 2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts andFigures
Ø Bring youup-to-date on how Arkansas can best prepare to deal with an expanding Alzheimer’spopulation
Ø Share with you the broad array ofprograms and services theAlzheimer’s Association offers to help individuals living alone with thedisease as well as individuals with the disease who live with caregivers.
