Alzheimer’s News June 2022

Alzheimer’s News June 2022
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, so here are some facts and figures. More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementia is estimated to have totaled $355 billion in 2021, increasing to more than $1.1 trillion (in today’s dollars) by mid-century. Dementia caregivers today are providing 20% more care than in 2009. In Missouri the prevalence of the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s looks like this: 2020 was 120,000. It is estimated to change to 130,000 by 2025, an 8.3% increase. Mortality: Dementia deaths during the COVID 19 pandemic. There were 1,037 more deaths than expected from dementia in 2020 which was 20% higher than average. The number of deaths from Alzheimer’s Disease in 2019 was 2,782, an increase of 153.8% since 2000 making it the 6th leading cause of death. Medicaid costs of caring for people with Alzheimer’s in 2020 was $973 million. That is expected to rise 16.8% by 2025. Based on 2020 statistics there were 194,000 caregivers. 64.1% of them had chronic health conditions. They provided 292,000,000 hours of unpaid care. 35.8% of caregivers experienced depression. Medicare is spending $25,091 per capita on people with dementia, in 2020 dollars.
You can learn more by going to www.alz.org/help-support/resources or the Alzheimer’s Helpline which is accessible 24/7 via 800-272-3900 and staffed by master’s level clinicians to assist with crisis situations, decision making, and disease information. You can find virtual dementia caregiver resources online at alz.org/covid19help. Tools and support are also available in Spanish.
Want to learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association and what they do here in St. Louis? Visit alz.org and/or contact PUCC’s Faith Outreach Ambassador with the Alzheimer’s Association, Joyce Ruiz at joyceruiz7@gmail.com