New Report From the Alzheimer's Association Shows More Than 1.4 Million Alzheimer's and Dementia Caregivers in California

IRVINE, CA, March 22, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Alzheimer's Association released the 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures last week. The new report finds there are 1.4 Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers in California who provided 1.6 million hours of care valued at $20 million. The new report details the escalation of Alzheimer's, now the 6th leading cause of death in the United States" the fourth in Orange County" and the only one in the top 10 causes of death that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.

Growing Impact of Alzheimer's on Families

-Alzheimer's disease is heartbreaking experience for both individuals with Alzheimer's and their caregivers.

-In this year's Facts and Figures report, we see the number of people with the disease growing and the number of friends and family who care for them significantly more than previously reported.

-The new report reveals there are more than 1.4 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers in California, and shedding light on the growing impact of a disease that currently is the sixth-leading cause of death and the only cause of death among the top 10 causes in America without a way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression.

-In 2010, these caregivers provided more than 1.6 million hours of unpaid care valued at nearly $20 million.

-In fact, California joins eight other states with the highest unpaid caregiver contributions in the country at $6 billion or more.

-There are an estimated 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, including 480,000 living in California alone.

-Most people survive an average of four to eight years after a diagnosis, but many can live as long as 20 years with the disease. This prolonged duration often places increasingly intensive care demands on family members and friends who provide care.

-Most caregivers are family members who take on a tremendous financial, physical and emotional burden to help care for a loved one with Alzheimer's or a related dementia.

"Alzheimer's is a significant threat not only for the nation - but especially for Orange County." said Jim McAleer, President and CEO of the Alzheimer' s Association, O.C. "With a rapidly aging population at increased risk for developing Alzheimer's and the number of caregivers growing each year, it will become increasingly important for states to be prepared with dementia-capable support services for people at all stages of the disease."

Alzheimer' s Impact on States

-Medicaid covers nursing home care and other long-term care services in the community for individuals who can no longer afford to pay for long-term care expenses. Ensuring access to Medicaid for those who need it must remain a priority for states as they deal with the escalating Alzheimer crisis.

-Average per-person Medicaid payments for beneficiaries aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's and other dementias are nine times higher than Medicaid payments for those without the disease. While Medicaid costs are $37 billion today they will climb almost 400 percent by 2050.

-At a time when a number of states are facing tremendous budget challenges, the growing Alzheimer's population will strain state budgets further.

-Alzheimer's has profound implications for future state budgets, and states must prepare now to address the multiple and complex challenges that Alzheimer's poses to individuals, families and state governments, particularly Medicaid.

-While only four percent of the general population will be admitted to a nursing home by age 80, for people with Alzheimer's, 75 percent will admitted to a nursing home, posing significant economic challenges to state Medicaid budgets.

-More than half of the states in the country have developed or are in the process of developing state plans, including California. These plans will be instrumental in assessing the current impact of Alzheimer's on California and outlining what steps California lawmakers must take in the coming years to improve its services and support to Alzheimer's families.

Importance of Early Detection

1. Increasing evidence suggests that early diagnosis of Alzheimer's and timely intervention is beneficial, both for people with the disease and their caregivers.

2. Early diagnosis allows affected people, relatives and their caregivers to plan for the future, obtain medical care to manage symptoms and optimize function, and assists Alzheimer's families in taking steps to reduce the risk of accidents requiring further medical care.

3. The new report explores the issue of early detection and outlines the various benefits it provides families, including access to valuable support services and resources and also helping to reduce anxiety among caregivers.

4. The Alzheimer's Association helps newly diagnosed individuals and their families.

The full text of the Alzheimer's Association's 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures can be viewed at http://www.alz.org.

Alzheimer' s Association's Facts and Figures
The Alzheimer's Association's Facts and Figures report is a comprehensive compilation of national
statistics and information on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The report conveys the impact of Alzheimer's on individuals, families, government, and the nation's healthcare system. Since its 2007 inaugural release, the report has become the most cited source covering the broad spectrum of Alzheimer issues. The Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report is an official publication of the Alzheimer' s Association.

About Alzheimer's Association, Orange County
The Orange County Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association provides a comprehensive suite of programs and services '" provided at no charge '" to meet myriad and evolving needs of people with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, their families, caregivers and the community. For more information, please go to, http://www.alz.org/oc, or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.