(A D) is not a normal part of aging.  It is a  disorder of the brains nerve cells that impairs memory, thinking, behavior and leads ultimately to death.  The impact of (A D) on our health care system makes it one of our nations greatest medical, social and economic challenges.

Alzheimer’s disease is progressive and degenerative.  There is no cure!  Sometimes it progresses slowly, gradually.  Sometimes it moves very quickly.  Life expectancy after diagnosis can be anywhere from 8 to 20 years.

It is estimated that 4.5 million Americans have (A D) .  The number has more than doubled since 1980 and the number will continue to grow.  By 2050 the number of individuals with (A D)  could range from 11.3 million to 16 million.

One in 10 individuals over age 65 and almost 50% of those over age 85 are affected. A rare, inherited form of (A D) can strike individuals as early as their 30s and 40s. Research has shown that those who have a parent, brother or sister, or child with  (A D) are more likely to develop the disease.  The risk increases if more than one family member has the illness.  Heredity, or environmental factors or both, can play a role when (A D) tends to run in the family.

Annual costs of caring for those with (A D) are approximately $100 billion and the  cost to American business alone is $61 billion.  Of this figure $24.6 billion pays for care of the (A D) patient with $36.5 billion covering costs related to the caregivers of the (A D)  patient.  This cost includes lost productivity, absenteeism and employee replacement.

More than 7 out of 10 people with (A D) live at home where almost 75% of their care is provided by family and friends.  A devoted caregiver will take care of their loved one as much and as long as they can, regrettably, it is usually at tremendous cost to their own health.  The symptoms of stress will become evident – denial, anger, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, sleeplessness, irritability and lack of concentration.  As a direct result the caregiver becomes susceptible to heart attack, stroke, and serious emotional disorders.

As a society we are not prepared to care for our aging population.  As responsible citizens we must begin planning, each within our own family, for the eventual need  for long-term health care. 

Dorothy McMahon is a Long-Term Care Insurance Specialist and President of McMahon and Associates, Ltd., she can be reached at 248-844-9787 or online at http://www.buyltcinsurancenow.info for  a free “Shopper’s Guide To Long-Term Care Insurance.”