Statewide stats on Alzheimer's released
3/8/2012
If you know someone who has Alzheimer's, you know it can be a heartbreaking disease that can take a whole family down.
It not only takes a huge emotional toll, it takes a giant financial toll too. Many people quit their jobs or retire early to become caregivers putting their own livelihoods at risk. New numbers just released show how dire the situation is.
“Caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the U.S. an estimated $200 billion in 2012,” said Nancy Rainwater with the Illinois Alzheimer’s Association.
The new study shows the costs could soar to more than a trillion dollars by mid-century unless there's a cure. Every 68 seconds someone in the U.S. develops the disease that robs you of your memory.
“Currently in Illinois there are 210,000 people that have Alzheimer’s Disease approximately and there’s approximately 585,000 loved ones providing care for those people,” Rainwater said.
Another shocking new number: 800,000 people in the U.S. who have Alzheimer’s live alone and have no identifiable caregiver.
Facts and Figures is the Alzheimer’s Association's annual report. Click HERE for the rundown on this year's stats.
Here's an overview of the scope of Alzheimer's in Illinois:
FM News' Mary Ellen Geist writes about her father's struggle with the disease in The Washington Times.