November is National Family Caregivers Month, and Alzheimer's Awareness Month. That means it is time to remember to fight Alzheimer's. It is time to remember and celebrate the millions of people who are caregivers to a loved one.
Here is a quick look at some astounding Alzheimer's and Caregiving statistics that we are facing as Americans:
- There are currently over 5 million people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
- There are over 40 million unpaid family caregivers in the US.
- More than 10 million of those are caring for someone with Alzheimer's.
- Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.
- One of the earliest signs of Alzheimer's memory loss, but most people will ignore this as a normal sign of aging.
- Caregivers come from all walks of life, and all age groups. They care for children, parents, grandparents, spouses, partners, friends, and distant relatives.
- Caregivers provide care for ANY person who can't care for themselves. Not just the elderly.
- Over 3 million of the people with Alzheimer's today are women.
- An estimated 350,000 children, between the ages of 8 and 18 help care for someone with a form of dementia.
- Over 30% of dementia caregivers suffer from depression.
- Caregivers have an increased chance of heart disease, high blood pressure, lowered immune system response, obesity, diabetes, headaches, physical injuries, and other conditions due to the stress of their daily caregiving tasks.
- As caregivers grow more ill and fatigued, the quality of care they can provide declines.
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