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From the Director
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness and Family Caregivers Month
By Robert P. Dean
National Family Caregivers Month is celebrated each November to spotlight the challenges family caregivers face, to advocate for additional caregiver supports, and to raise awareness of the community programs currently available to support family caregivers. There are more than 50 million family caregivers nationwide, many of whom care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. Family caregivers can be the primary or secondary caregiver, full or part time, and can live with or apart from the person to whom they provide care. The combined efforts of family caregivers, neighbors, and friends account for nearly 94 million hours (or three-quarters) of the care which is provided each week to chronically disabled seniors living in the community. The value of this care is estimated to be more than $306 billion dollars a year, which is almost twice what is spent on homecare and nursing home services.
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month pays tribute each November to those who suffer from the disease and to those who strive to make their lives better. Although the cause of Alzheimer’s disease remains unknown and there is no cure at this time, there has been a significant increase in medical research over the last several years, and there is hope that a cure may yet be found.
Since former President Ronald Reagan, who was himself a victim of the disease, first declared November as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in 1983, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease has more than doubled from 2 million to 5.1 million people. Someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease every 72 seconds. The single greatest risk factor associated with Alzheimer’s is advancing age, which means that as the number of Americans age 60 and older continues to grow — the first of the Baby Boomers began to turn 60 in 2006 — so too will the number of Americans afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. More than 70% of those currently suffering from Alzheimer’s continue to live at home, with almost 75% of their care being provided by family members and friends, many of whom are themselves seniors. The typical primary family caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s is female in her 70's, with two chronic health problems of her own. The average life expectancy for someone with dementia is between eight and 10 years.
Caregiving for an extended period of time can have a negative effect on a caregiver’s health. One study reports that the stress of caring for a family member with dementia can affect the caregiver’s immune system for up to three years after the caregiving ends, which increases the caregiver’s chances of developing a chronic illness of his or her own. Another study shows that family caregivers who provide more than 36 hours of care a week are more likely than non-caregivers to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety. For those caring for a parent the rate is twice as high, for spouses, it is six times higher. Many family caregivers also experience high levels of stress. It is important that family caregivers do what they can to take care of themselves, protect their own health, and reach out for help when they need it.
Elder Services offers a number of caregiver services and supports, including information, training and education, respite, individual counseling, and support groups. The Richard and Rita Gallagher Alzheimer’s Resource Center located at our 66 Wendell Avenue address in Pittsfield, is a lending library of books, videos, and other helpful information about Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving, and a variety of other topics. The Resource Center will celebrate its ten-year anniversary this month with a re-dedication ceremony. For more information about Alzheimer’s and/or dementia, or caregiver supports, call Elder Services or visit the Richard and Rita Gallagher Alzheimer’s Resource Center. The Massachusetts Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association can be contacted at 499-0691 or www.alzmass.org. The website for the National Family Caregivers Association is www.nfcacares.org.
Robert P. Dean is Executive Director of Elder Services