Report Confirms Alzheimer’s Disease Crisis

Another Report Confirms Alzheimer’s Disease CrisisA new report released by Alzheimer’s Disease International found that between 2010 and 2050, the total number of seniors who require care will nearly triple from 101 to 277 million. The report estimates that half of those seniors will be suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other related dementia. Growing Need for Caregivers Defining dependence as “the need for frequent human help or care beyond that habitually required by a healthy adult,” the report found that 13 percent of those aged 60 or older are dependent on caregivers.As the population of those 60 and over continues to increase, the number of those requiring care will also swell, particularly in more developed countries with higher life expectancies. This will create a greater strain on “informal” caregivers, such as friends and relatives, and increase the need for long-term care solutions.Global Economic ImpactBecause many of those requiring care suffer from Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia, the report stress the economic impact of dementia globally.The worldwide cost of dementia care is currently over $600 billion. The authors point out that if dementia care were a country, it would be the world’s 18th largest economy. If it were a company, it would by far be the world’s largest by annual revenue, exceeding WalMart ($414 billion) and Exxon Mobil ($311 billion). These numbers will continue to climb as the population ages and greater stress is put on professional and informal caregivers.“People with dementia have special needs.  Compared with other long-term care users they need more personal care, more hours of care, and more supervision, all of which is associated with greater strain on caregivers and higher costs,” said Dr. Martin Prince, lead author of the report.What Can We Do?The authors also make several recommendations that they believe will help enhance the quality of life of those suffering from cognitive impairment, and assist their families and caregivers. Among them, they call for governments around the world to make dementia a priority by implementing national plans, and by initiating urgent national debates on future arrangements for long-term care. They also recommend ten-fold increases in research funding to develop better treatments and care strategies for those with cognitive impairment, and most importantly to develop a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.Other recommendations include enhancing training for front-line caregivers, placing systems to monitor the quality of care in dementia care settings, and improving coordination in health and social care systems. Read the full report: World Alzheimer Report 2013Shared from Choice Connections