Women and Alzheimer's Disease: The Caregiver's Crisis | workingmother.com

This is how Alzheimer's Disease is impacting today's working mothers.

Women and Alzheimer's Disease: The Caregiver's Crisis | workingmother.com

New Report Reveals Alzheimer's Will Cost Nation $200 billion in 2012

The recently released Alzheimer’s Association 2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report says that caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the United States an estimated $200 billion in 2012. This includes $140 billion paid by Medicare and Medicaid. 

In addition, Medicare payments for an older person with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are nearly three times higher and Medicaid payments are 19 times higher than for seniors without these conditions. These costs will only continue to soar in the coming years given the projected rapidly escalating prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease as the baby boomers age.

 

The facts outlined in the report also underscore the need for investment in research. While the estimated costs of Alzheimer’s to the country are $200 billion, only one percent of this, $2 billion, is what scientists say is needed to make significant inroads in Alzheimer’s research that can begin to solve the crisis. To learn more about the information released in Facts and Figures, visit alz.org to watch a video summarizing the report.

Facts and Figures also includes a special section focusing on individuals living alone with Alzheimer’s. While Alzheimer’s imposes profound challenges on individuals and their families, for the one out of seven individuals with Alzheimer’s who live alone these challenges are even more formidable. An estimated 800,000 individuals have Alzheimer’s and live alone, and up to half of these individuals do not have an identifiable caregiver.

The Alzheimer’s Association provides a wealth of resources, programs and materials to assist individuals who live alone and their families, including:

Helpline: Available 24/7, this free call center (800.272.3900) offers information and support from master’s level clinicians.

Care consultations: The Alzheimer’s Association offers care consultations to individuals and their families living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Care planning is essential to provide those with the disease information about medical and non-medical options for treatment and support services.

ALZConnected: ALZConnected, powered by the Alzheimer’s Association, is the first dedicated online social networking community for anyone affected by Alzheimer’s disease; it provides a safe place for people to connect with others in similar situations 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at no charge.

For more information and resources to support those living alone with Alzheimer’s, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at alz.org. 

Online Dementia and Driving Resource Center Helps Families Tackle a Difficult Topic

Due to the progressive nature of Alzheimer’s, every person with the disease will eventually become unable to drive. Some people are able to continue driving in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, but it requires ongoing evaluation to ensure safety.

As hard as it is for people living with Alzheimer’s to give up driving, addressing the topic is often just as hard on caregivers. In response to this delicate topic and lack of resources to address it, the Alzheimer’s Association, with support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, created a new Dementia and Driving Resource Center (DDRC) located online at alz.org/driving.

The DDRC was designed to inform and support the needs of both caregivers and people living with dementia in a compassionate manner. The site features four short videos depicting different scenarios for approaching driving and dementia. In addition, the DDRC has tips and strategies for planning ahead and handling resistance, common signs of unsafe driving, resources for alternative methods of transportation and additional information on driving and safety.

The Alzheimer’s Association recommends that families discuss driving, ideally while the person with Alzheimer’s is still able to participate in the conversation and decision-making process. The following are signs that it may be time for the person with dementia to stop driving:

• Forgetting how to locate familiar places 
• Failing to observe traffic signs 
• Making slow or poor decisions in traffic 
• Driving at an inappropriate speed 
• Becoming angry or confused while driving 
• Hitting curbs 
• Using poor lane control 
• Making errors at intersections 
• Confusing the brake and gas pedals 
• Returning from a routine drive later than usual 
• Forgetting the destination you are driving to during the trip  

If you are concerned that your loved one with Alzheimer's Disease or another related dementia may no longer be able to drive safely, then please visit the Alzheimer's Association's Dementia and Driving Resource Center. 

Don't Ignore Signs of Caregiver Stress

Caring for a person with Alzheimer's disease can cause depression, anger and irritability, in addition to taking a physical toll that results in exhaustion and sleeplessness. These are real issues caregivers shouldn't ignore.

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. The Alzheimer's Association offers a number of resources to help caregivers manage stress:

• The Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Notebook offers tips for care and planning for the future, as well as a list of resources to use when additional information is needed. To learn more or purchase the Caregiver Notebook, visit www.alz.org/caregivernotebook.
• Caregiver Stress Check, an interactive quiz that helps caregivers to identify symptoms of stress and provides a tailored list of helpful referrals and other support. Take the quiz at www.alz.org/stresscheck.
• Alzheimer's Association CareSource™, an easy-to-use, one-stop online portal for everything you need to widen your care options and plan for care for a person with Alzheimer's. Find out how CareSource can help at www.alz.org/caresource.

Learn more about Alzheimer's disease and caregiver stress by visiting http://www.alz.org/.

 

Raising Alzheimer’s Awareness Worldwide

Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 35 million individuals worldwide and costs the global economy more than $600 billion. Alzheimer’s is an international health epidemic that impacts people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.

September is World Alzheimer’s Month and an opportunity to raise awareness of this devastating disease on a global level. If you know an individual who is in need of information on Alzheimer’s, you can direct them to the following resources in multiple languages from the Alzheimer’s Association:

• Brain Tour – A virtual tour of the brain that helps to explain how the brain works and how Alzheimer’s disease affects it. It is currently available in 14 languages including German, Polish, French and Spanish at alz.org.

• Know the 10 Signs – An easy-to-read list describing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Available at alz.org in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese.

• 24/7 Helpline – A round-the-clock information and support helpline provided by education specialists and masters level counselors. Services include bilingual Spanish-speaking consultants and interpretation for more than 170 languages. Call 1.800.272.3900.

• Online portals – Fully translated microsites with an overview of Alzheimer's disease, signs and symptoms, caregiving tips and more. These sites are currently available in Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Japanese and can be accessed by visiting alz.org.

For those seeking information on Alzheimer’s in other languages, a local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association may also be a good resource. To find the chapter nearest you, visit alz.org.

Safer Travel for Those with Dementia

Summer is the time of year when many Americans plan summer and holiday travel. Whether you’re considering a weekend getaway or an extended stay, traveling with an individual who has Alzheimer’s requires additional thought and preparation.

People with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers need to be prepared for a change in schedule and environment. Even if it is a trip you have taken before, it may feel new for the person with the disease.

Additionally, as Alzheimer’s progresses, negotiating changes in environment will become increasingly challenging. Be prepared for the individual with the disease to experience some confusion or disorientation. Exercise caution, as wandering and getting lost are more likely during transitional times. The checklist below will help you plan for the trip and make it successful and safe.
Before going

• Call the Alzheimer’s Association chapter in the area you will be visiting. Let them know you will be staying in the area and ask about available resources. You can locate any chapter by calling 1.800.272.3900 or visiting www.alz.org/apps/findus.asp.

• Enroll the person in MedicAlert® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return®, a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia who wander or have a medical emergency. You may also want to consider the Alzheimer’s Association Comfort Zone®, powered by Omnilink, a Web-based GPS location management service or Alzheimer’s Association Comfort Zone Check-InTM.

• If you are already enrolled in MedicAlert, update your records with temporary contact information (call 1.888.572.8566).

Upon arrival

• Let neighbors know a person with Alzheimer’s is staying next door and ask them to keep their eye out for wandering or other unsafe behavior.

• During the first few days after arrival, keep your schedule light with lots of down time.

• Create opportunities to re-acclimate the person to the new environment.

• Keep familiar things around.

• Limit access to money and credit cards.

• Limit access to driving.

• Be aware that the change can be chaotic for the person.

• Recognize the warning signs of anxiety and agitation.

For more tips on safety for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including concerns about wandering, disaster preparedness, home and medication safety, visit the Alzheimer’s Association Safety Center at www.alz.org/safetycenter or call 1.800.272.3900 to find the Alzheimer’s Association chapter closest to you.

National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA): Take Action!

The Alzheimer's Association reports that there are currently 5.3 million people living with Alzheimer's Disease and that every 70 seconds another person is diagnosed with this terminal disease.  It is predicted that up to 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer's Disease by the year 2050 and that someone will be diagnosed with the Disease every 33 seconds.  Alzheimer's Disease is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States with mortality rates on the rise.  The yearly price tag of Alzheimer's Disease?   $172 billion per year. 

Over the past several years, organizations have been encouraging Congress to take action in the fight against Alzheimer's Disease. Congress has voted, unanimously, to pass the National Alzheimer's Project Act, which creates a plan to combat Alzheimer's Disease with the same intensity as the attacks on cancer and AIDS. The goal of the project is to create a national strategic plan to improve treatments, prevent, and ultimately find a cure for Alzheimer's Disease.

If signed in to law by President Obama., the bill would create the National Alzheimer's Project within the Department of Health and Human Services. There would be a plethora of organizations represented on the Project's adisory council as well as health care professionals and family caregivers of those with Alzheimer's Disease.

Your help is needed to have this bill signed in to law by year's end. Please visit the Alzheimer's Association for information on how you can send a message to President Obama.

Safer Travel for Those with Dementia

December is a time when many families are planning to travel to visit family and friends. Whether you're considering a weekend getaway or an extended stay, traveling with an individual who has Alzheimer's requires additional thought and preparation. 

Additionally, as Alzheimer's progresses, negotiating changes in environment will become increasingly challenging. Be prepared for the individual with the disease to experience some confusion or disorientation. Exercise caution, as wandering and getting lost are more likely during transitional times. The checklist below will help you plan for the trip and make it successful and safe.

Before going persons with Alzheimer's and their caregivers need to be prepared for a change in schedule and environment. Even if it is a trip you have taken before, it may feel new for the person with the disease. 

• Call the Alzheimer's Association chapter in the area you will be visiting. Let them know you will be staying in the area and ask about available resources. You can locate any chapter by calling 1.800.272.3900 or visiting www.alz.org/apps/findus.asp.
• Enroll the person in MedicAlert^® + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return^®, a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer's or a related dementia who wander or have a medical emergency. You may also want to consider the Alzheimer's Association Comfort Zone^TM, powered by Omnilink, a Web-based GPS location management service.
• If you are already enrolled in MedicAlert, update your records with temporary contact information (call 1.888.572.8566).

Upon arrival

• Let the neighbors know a person with Alzheimer's is staying next door and ask them to keep their eye out for wandering or other unsafe behavior.
• During the first few days after arrival, keep your schedule light with lots of down time.
• Create opportunities to re-acclimate the person to the new environment.
• Keep familiar things around.
• Limit access to money and credit cards.
• Limit access to driving.
• Be aware that the change can be chaotic for the person.
• Recognize the warning signs of anxiety and agitation.

For more tips on safety for people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, including concerns about wandering, disaster preparedness, home  and medication safety, visit the Alzheimer's Association Safety Center at www.alz.org/safetycenter  or call 1.800.272.3900 to find the Alzheimer's Association chapter closest to you. 

Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Day

In 2007 the State of New Jersey passed legislation designating the first Monday in November as "Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Day". This year we observe this day on Monday, November 1st.

The Alzheimer's Association reports that there are currently 5.3 million people living with Alzheimer's Disease and that every 70 seconds another person is diagnosed with this terminal disease. It is predicted that up to 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer's Disease by the year 2050 and that someone will be diagnosed with the Disease every 33 seconds.

Alzheimer's Disease is the 7th leading cause of death in the United States with mortality rates on the rise. The yearly price tag of Alzheimer's Disease? $172 billion per year.

Please join Home Care Assistance of New Jersey as we honor the victims of Alzheimer's Disease and their loved ones by observing Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Day. Wear purple to show your support. Together we can turn New Jersey in to a sea of purple on Monday, November 1st!