This is the first portion of a two-part series on Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. It was about a year ago that I tackled this topic, specifically Alzheimer’s Disease. And at that time, the Alzheimer’s Association – which is the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research – said there were an estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s dementia –  TODAY – for the first time, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease is estimated that 7.2 million. 

Here are some other interesting facts – Last year, more than, 210,000 Alzheimer’s patients were in NC. TODAY, 210,500 people aged 65 and older in NC are living with Alzheimer’s. 

What does this mean in terms of costs? The Alzheimer’s Association estimates the total cost of care for someone with dementia is more than $400,000 ($405,262). And who is paying for it? The family.  Last year in NC, dementia caregivers provided 739 million hours of unpaid care, and that’s valued at $13 billion.   

These numbers are attached to REAL people – both the dementia patient and the CAREGIVER. While there is still no cure for this disease and research continues, so does the EVERYDAY effort to support those living with Alzheimer’s dementia. On this episode, I talked with two of them learning to navigate their new reality.

GUESTS:

Jeff and Penny Lambert. Jeff was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and wife is taking care of him.

Kara Harrington, Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications – Alzheimer’s Association  

INFORMATION:

Alzheimer’s Association