According to Generation Alzheimer’s, a new report released by the Alzheimer’s Association on Jan. 27, one in eight baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s, a devastating, heartbreaking, costly disease. It’s no longer their grandparents and parents who have Alzheimer’s – it’s the baby boomers themselves.
A rapidly aging population and dramatic increases in the number of Alzheimer cases in the coming years underscores the urgency in dealing with a crisis that is no longer emerging, but here.
Generation Alzheimer’s also describes the effect Alzheimer’s has on families and friends. Beyond the 10 million baby boomers who will either die with or from Alzheimer’s, millions of caregivers will be devastated, not only by the progressive loss of their loved one, but also by the care they will provide – care that could negatively affect their health, financial security and their future.
Most people survive an average of four to six years after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, but many live for as long as 20 years with the disease. This often long duration places increasingly intensive care demands on Alzheimer and dementia caregivers – as many as 11 million nationwide.
Alzheimer’s disease will also have a profound effect on our nation, killing more than diabetes and more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. According to preliminary data from National Center for Health Statistics, the number of Americans that die each year from Alzheimer’s disease has risen 66 percent since 2000. In 2010, Alzheimer’s and other dementias cost American society – families, insurers and the government - $172 billion; during the next 40 years it will cost more than $20 trillion, enough to pay of the national debt today and still send a $20,000 check to every man, woman and child in America.
Generation Alzheimer’s calls for a federal government committed to a thorough, aggressive and innovative approach to ending Alzheimer’s.
For more information about Generation Alzheimer’s, Alzheimer’s disease or resources to help, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org. To read the report, please click here: Generation Alzheimer's.
Showing posts with label baby boomers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby boomers. Show all posts
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Take Care of Your Eyes: They're the Only Two You've Got!
January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is a word that we hear often, but what is it and how can we prevent it? If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with glaucoma, then what should you expect?
Glaucoma is an eye disease affecting nearly 2.2 million people aged 40 and older. If left untreated, then it can lead to blindness. The eye produces a watery substance that easily drains out of the eye and into the bloodstream. However, in someone with glaucoma, the fluid isn't able to properly drain out of the eye, which results in an increase of pressure inside the eye. Doctors believe that this increase in eye pressure results in damage to the optic nerve, which can inevitably lead to blindness.
Treatment for glaucoma can range from medications to surgery. Medication is typically the first line of defense and can consist of either drops, pills, or ointments. Prescription drugs can either work to reduce the amount of fluid that is produced by the eye or to improve the drainage system in the eye. Laser surgery is another option whereby a doctor uses a laser to make anywhere from 50-100 tiny burns in the eye to open up the drainage system, which reduces pressure inside the eye. In some cases, glaucoma surgery, which is more intense than laser surgery, becomes necessary. In glaucoma surgery, the surgeon either makes a small opening in the white part of the eye to create a new path for the fluid to flow out or inserts an implant to serve as the eye's new drainage system.
If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, it is important to keep an optimistic outlook. Treatment can allow you to live a normal life. If, however, you are experiencing low vision as a result of glaucoma, there are some things that you can do to make things easier for you. Read large-print books. Use a computer with a large screen. Maintain a well-lit environment. Invest in magnifying lenses.
Most of the risk factors (i.e. age, race, and family history) for glaucoma are outside of your control. However, yearly eye exams are important. For high risk individuals, glaucoma screenings are covered at 80% by Medicare. If you are unable to afford a vision screening, there are a number of organizations that can assist you in getting the eye care that you need. Please visit The Glaucoma Learning Center for available resources.
For more information about glaucoma and other eye diseases, please visit Prevent Blindness America or the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
Glaucoma is an eye disease affecting nearly 2.2 million people aged 40 and older. If left untreated, then it can lead to blindness. The eye produces a watery substance that easily drains out of the eye and into the bloodstream. However, in someone with glaucoma, the fluid isn't able to properly drain out of the eye, which results in an increase of pressure inside the eye. Doctors believe that this increase in eye pressure results in damage to the optic nerve, which can inevitably lead to blindness.
Treatment for glaucoma can range from medications to surgery. Medication is typically the first line of defense and can consist of either drops, pills, or ointments. Prescription drugs can either work to reduce the amount of fluid that is produced by the eye or to improve the drainage system in the eye. Laser surgery is another option whereby a doctor uses a laser to make anywhere from 50-100 tiny burns in the eye to open up the drainage system, which reduces pressure inside the eye. In some cases, glaucoma surgery, which is more intense than laser surgery, becomes necessary. In glaucoma surgery, the surgeon either makes a small opening in the white part of the eye to create a new path for the fluid to flow out or inserts an implant to serve as the eye's new drainage system.
If you have been diagnosed with glaucoma, it is important to keep an optimistic outlook. Treatment can allow you to live a normal life. If, however, you are experiencing low vision as a result of glaucoma, there are some things that you can do to make things easier for you. Read large-print books. Use a computer with a large screen. Maintain a well-lit environment. Invest in magnifying lenses.
Most of the risk factors (i.e. age, race, and family history) for glaucoma are outside of your control. However, yearly eye exams are important. For high risk individuals, glaucoma screenings are covered at 80% by Medicare. If you are unable to afford a vision screening, there are a number of organizations that can assist you in getting the eye care that you need. Please visit The Glaucoma Learning Center for available resources.
For more information about glaucoma and other eye diseases, please visit Prevent Blindness America or the Glaucoma Research Foundation.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Eldercare...Planning for Baby Boomers, Providing the Answers You Need
Zarephath Christian Church invites the public to their upcoming panel presentation on Saturday, October 16th at 9:00 a.m. at the church. This valuable program entitled “Eldercare Planning for Baby Boomers– Providing the Answers you need” addresses caregivers who share the common issues of being overwhelmed and under informed when an older adult needs their help. The panel presentation will be moderated by Maryann Porosky, LCSW, Care Management Specialist of Caring Choices and will feature four experts: Michelle Bucci, Outreach Director at the Chelsea of Warren, Kevin McClarren, President, Home Care Assistance; Jeff Knapp, Eldercare Law Attorney of Knapp Law Firm, and Terri Erbacher, LPN, Elder Care Advocate.
The panel of speakers will explain ways to avoid costly mistakes, both emotional and financial by planning now rather than facing a crisis unprepared. They will discuss choosing the right venue for care, whether it be your home, an assisted living facility or a nursing home and minimizing the financial impact it can have on your family and loved ones. You will also have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A session after the presentation.
There is no charge for this invaluable presentation and a nice continental breakfast will be served. Advance reservations are requested by confirming your attendance by calling Terri Erbacher at 908-526-5279. Zarephath Christian is located at 14 Chapel Drive in Zarephath, NJ.
The panel of speakers will explain ways to avoid costly mistakes, both emotional and financial by planning now rather than facing a crisis unprepared. They will discuss choosing the right venue for care, whether it be your home, an assisted living facility or a nursing home and minimizing the financial impact it can have on your family and loved ones. You will also have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A session after the presentation.
There is no charge for this invaluable presentation and a nice continental breakfast will be served. Advance reservations are requested by confirming your attendance by calling Terri Erbacher at 908-526-5279. Zarephath Christian is located at 14 Chapel Drive in Zarephath, NJ.
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