Stats and Safety Tips

04 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by Ann Napoletan in ALZ Assn - National, Blogging, Caregivers, Caregivers.com, Facts & Figures, Helpful Resources, Safety

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Did you know that:

80% of care provided at home is delivered by family caregivers.
In 2011, family members and friends provided an estimated 17.4 billion hours of unpaid care valued at more than $210 billion.
43% of those caring for Alzheimer’s patients reported the physical stress of caregiving was high to very high, and the physical and emotional impact of ALZ and dementia caregiving is estimated to result in $8.7 billion in increased health care costs in the U.S.
65% of caregivers with full or part-time jobs reported having to alter their work schedules or take time off, while 20% have had to take a leave of absence.
43% of those caring for loved ones with ALZ have been providing care for 1 to 4 years; 32% for 5 years or more.

As you can see based on these statistics, caregiving for ALZ and dementia patients is on the rise, and a significant portion of this care is provided in the home. Today on Caregivers, some tips and resources for creating a safe environment for your loved ones at home: In Home Safety: 10 Tips For Caregivers

Source for statistics: http://www.alz.org/downloads/facts_figures_2012.pdf

Spotlight on Dave Morgan, Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Researcher

21 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Advocacy and Awareness, ALZ Assn - National, Facts & Figures, Prevention, Research, Washington

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Did you know:

While the death rate from heart disease, prostate cancer, breast cancer, HIV and stroke is declining, the number of Alzheimer’s deaths is rising—increasing 66 percent between 2000 and 2008.

Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death among the top 10 in America without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression.

The Alzheimer’s Association recently spoke to Dr. Dave Morgan, Chief Executive Officer/Director of the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer Institute, Distinguished Professor of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, and Director of Neuroscience Research for the College of Medicine and at the University of South Florida.

On a very encouraging note, Dr. Morgan said, “…my hope is that in the not-too-distant future, if you’re willing to get a PET scan or spinal tap to determine if you’re at risk, you’ll be able to take drugs to delay the onset of the disease and presumably prevent it in your lifetime.”

Additional food for thought:

“The analogy of Alzheimer’s to AIDS is an interesting one: About 20 years ago, AIDS advocates launched a campaign to gain federal funding for research, and it worked. The amount of money put into AIDS research was incredible – about $3 billion to this day, which helped lead to effective treatments for the disease.

On the other hand, Alzheimer’s has received significantly less federal funding than AIDS, yet it affects far more people and costs our nation 10 times as much. We’ve seen from the AIDS example that unevenness in funding can be overcome – and it can’t come too soon.”

To read more from Dr. Morgan, check out the entire article.

Advocacy

22 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Caregivers, Events, Facts & Figures, Helpful Resources, NAPA, Research, Washington

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actionalz-logo2 Having been through this experience, and now having lost my mom, I feel more compelled than ever to advocate, ADVOCATE, A-D-V-O-C-A-T-E!! Those of us who have suffered the wrath of Alzheimer’s or related dementias owe it to those who come after us to do what we can to advance the Alzheimer’s agenda in this country.

The Ohio Council of the Alzheimer’s Association is made up of the seven Association Chapters in the State of Ohio and exists to advance Alzheimer’s initiatives at the state and federal levels. The Council’s web page is a great source of information regarding upcoming events as well as a list of state and federal public policy priorities.

Are you educated on our government’s plans and priorities concerning Alzheimer’s and related dementia? There’s a lot going on, and our support is needed!

The (Ohio) Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act (H.B. 27), passed December 20, 2012. This bill will simplify and standardize the process of obtaining guardianship across state lines, which is critical for families who are in crisis but do not have advanced directives in place.

(Ohio) Alzheimer’s Respite Programs and Services (Budget Line Item 490-414) provide funding for respite care, which can be a true lifesaver for full time caregivers.

The National Alzheimer’s Plan, unanimously signed into law in January, 2011, aims to enhance quality of care, expand support services for those suffering from the disease and their families, increase awareness, improve analytics, and most importantly “prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease by 2025.” This is an ambitious agenda, but one that we must push forward.

The Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act (H.R. 1897), if passed, will make Alzheimer’s research a priority for the National Institutes of Health. Did you know that for every $28,000 the federal government spends on care for Alzheimer’s disease patients, it only spends $100 on Alzheimer’s disease research.

Consider this: If there were a treatment that would delay the onset of the disease by just five years, it would reduce government spending on Alzheimer’s care by nearly 50%. Without a viable treatment, over the next forty years the estimated cost for care in America is $20 trillion, including $15 trillion to Medicare and Medicaid. Sound like this needs to be a priority??

The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (S. 738/ H.R. 1386), if passed, will provide for early diagnosis and access to care planning services leading to better outcomes for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers.