New Alzheimer’s Association Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures Report
Today we released the 2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures Report. This year’s report has some new information. I’m struck by two things in particular:
1.) The report found that Medicare payments for an older person with Alzheimer’s or other dementias are nearly three times higher while Medicaid payments are 19 times higher than for seniors without Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
2.) A special section in this year’s report about individuals living alone with Alzheimer’s disease highlights the sheer number of people in this situation (1 in 7 people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias lives alone) and the potential dangers they face.
It’s also alarming to see the statistic of the number of people who get Alzheimer’s every day. Two years ago, our report said one person would get the disease every 70 seconds. In 2011 the report said someone would get the disease every 69 seconds. This year, we report that someone will get the disease every 68 seconds. What a scary illustration of how rapidly this disease is growing and its potential to bankrupt our health care system!
You can view the full report at www.alz.org/facts, where you can also view a new video that highlights the facts as well as a brief fact sheet and information specific to each state.
The information in this report is extremely eye-opening. All of this is important to remember when we interact with clients who have the disease. Thanks for sharing this data.
Michelle Rogers, Home Instead Senior Care in Mountain View, Calif.
My beloved grdnamother suffered with alzhemier’s for almost 20 years and it was soooo hard on her, us, and all that loved her. I hope and pray that someday there is a cure. Love to you, your mother and all that care for her.