As the Director of Clinical Services for a home health care agency. I have seen an increase in the number of dementia cases coming into our agency. Why? I'll tell you why!
By the end of this year the number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia are expected to be 111,560. Some experts predict 67,680 new cases will be women and 43,880 will be men. Why the difference? Are women more susceptible to getting dementia than men? No, of course not. The facts are increased for women because in general they out live men. It is projected that seniors 75 and older will increase by 70% by 2025.
Right now the American Alzheimer's Association say that America has 5.4 million seniors with Alzheimer's so far, and the numbers will increase as the baby boomers grow older. This figure is expected to increase 350% by 2050. By the end of this year, 10,000 people will be turning 65. 85% of them will need some sort of home health care. Sadly, there are also approximately 200,000 individuals in the US under the age of 65 who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Fact: So far America has spent 183 Billion, not Million, but Billion of dollars per year to care for people with dementia. 80% of these patients have at least one chronic health care issue, and 50% have at least two medical conditions such as: Arthritis, Diabetes, Hypertension, COPD, or a cardiac condition. As patients with dementia start to enter into the 3rd and 4th stages of dementia, their health may start to deteriorate due to non-compliance of care by the patient with dementia.
2 years ago government statistics stated that there were 8.9 million unpaid caregivers. The numbers have grown. This year it is estimated that 14.9 million people care for their loved ones who are over the age of 50.
2 years ago American businesses estimated they lost $34 Billion dollar due to employees needing time off to care for their parents, spouse or other relative.
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