Nearly 7 Million Americans Have Alzheimer”s, and Caregivers Are Stressed

WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 7 million American seniors are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, placing a huge strain on both personal caregivers and the U.S. health care system, according to a new Alzheimer”s Association report.

The cost of caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s is projected to reach $360 billion this year, up $15 billion from just a year ago, says the association’s 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report.

At the same time, coordinating the health care of people with dementia has become “a complex maze composed of primary care providers, specialists, social services, medication management and caregiver support,” Sam Fazio, senior director of psychosocial research and quality care at the Alzheimer’s Association, said in a news release.

Seven of 10 caregivers report that coordinating Alzheimer’s care is stressful, and 53% said navigating health care is difficult, the association’s report found.

“As the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s continues to grow, ensuring patients, their caregivers and families have a clear understanding of how to navigate dementia care resources is critical to improving health outcomes,” Fazio said.

In all, 6.9 million people 65 and older in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the report says.

About 11.5 million family members and other caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid help for people with Alzheimer”s in 2023, the report says.

On average, that’s nearly 31 hours of care per caregiver each week, or 1,612 hours a year, the report says.

These hours are spent managing a disease that essentially upends the lives of both patient and caregiver.

A caregiver might find themselves helping with daily personal care like dressing or washing, while also scheduling appointments with health care providers, attending doctor’s visits, and reaching out for support services like adult day care or meal delivery.

Two in three caregivers (66%) struggle to find resources and support, the report says.

The top five sources of stress for caregivers are:

• Cost (42%).

• Coordinating with multiple doctors (36%).

• Securing appointments (35%).

• Getting help taking a break (35%).

• Finding appropriate doctors (32%).

Experts say care navigation services can provide relief. These services help people weave their way through the health care system and the network of support services available to them.

The concept of care navigation originated in cancer clinics in the 1990s, to address the complexities faced by cancer patients in managing their care, the report says. It’s since expanded to other chronic diseases, including kidney disease and diabetes.

The vast majority of dementia caregivers (97%) say they would find a navigation service helpful. But only half (51%) have talked with a health care professional about the challenges they face or sought help with dementia care, the report says.