Alzheimer’s Association report shows care contributors sacrifice own food and medical care to support person with Alzheimer’s disease

COLUMBIA, SC – The personal financial support required by a person with Alzheimer’s disease may ultimately deprive care contributors of basic necessities, such as food, transportation and medical care, according to the 2016 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report released today. Alzheimer’s Association’s Facts and Figures shows that these care contributors were 28 percent more likely to eat less or go hungry while contributing care to someone with Alzheimer’s, and one-fifth of them sacrificed their own medical care by cutting back on doctor visits. Overall, nearly half of care contributors cut back on their own expenses to afford dementia-related care for their family member or friend.

Alzheimer’s Disease By The Numbers

The 2016 Facts and Figures report provides an in-depth look at the prevalence, incidence, mortality and economic impact of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias – all of which continue to rise at staggering rates as the American population ages.

Prevalence, Incidence and Mortality

• An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, including 84,000 in South Carolina. This includes an estimated 5.2 million people age 65 and older, and approximately 200,000 individuals under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer’s. Barring the development of medical breakthroughs, the number will rise to 13.8 million by 2050.
• Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S., and the fifth-leading cause of death for those age 65 and older. From 2000-2013, the number of Alzheimer’s deaths increased 71 percent, while deaths from other major diseases, such as heart disease, breast cancer and HIV, decreased.
• There are 300,000 Alzheimer’s caregivers in South Carolina providing 341,000,000 hours of unpaid care valued at $4,181,000,000.
• Total payments for health care, long-term care and hospice for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are projected to be $236 billion in 2016.
• The financial toll of Alzheimer’s on individuals exceeds the toll on Medicaid. Total Medicaid spending for people with Alzheimer’s disease is $43 billion, while out-of-pocket spending is estimated at $46 billion, or 19 percent, of total care payments for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Today it is estimated that 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and nearly 16 million family members and friends are caregivers providing financial, physical and emotional support.

“In addition to the emotional burden of coping with a life-changing diagnosis, many individuals and families are blindsided by the high costs of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia,” said Cindy Alewine, President of the Alzheimer’s Association South Carolina Chapter. “We talk to families facing these challenges every day. The Alzheimer’s Association is available to help family members identify local resources that can help them, as well as proactively plan for the potential financial impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

The Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures report found that nearly half on care contributors tapped into savings or retirement funds to help pay for costs related to dementia. On average, care contributors, many of whom do not live with the person they’re caring for, spent more than $5,000 a year of their own money to care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease; however, amounts varied with many spending tens of thousands of dollars per year.

Unfortunately, a significant number of care contributors today don’t have a complete understanding of the financial implications of supporting someone with Alzheimer’s. According to data from the Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures report, about two out of three people incorrectly believe that Medicare will help them cover nursing home costs, or they are not sure whether the costs will be covered.

To increase assistance for families affected by Alzheimer’s, the Alzheimer’s Association supports the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act, which would provide Medicare coverage for comprehensive care planning services following an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis. Individuals can ask their member of Congress to co-sponsor and support the HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act. Congressman Tom Rice become the first co-sponsor from South Carolina earlier this year.

Full text of the Alzheimer’s Association 2016 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report can be viewed at alzheimersanddementia.com. The report will also appear in the April 2016 issue of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association (volume 12, issue 4).

Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. It is the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research. The Association’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org or call 800-272-3900.