When we sisters (Dana and Devon) attend Alzheimer’s seminars, the Alzheimer’s Association or the leading speaker tells attendees that not enough money is being spent on the disease and, guess what, the U.S. is the nation that spends the most! Given the rapid aging of Americans, the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to reach 7.7 million in 2030 — more than a 50 percent increase from the 5.1 million aged 65 and older currently affected.
This New York Times Op Ed, The Age of Alzheimer’s by Sandra Day O’Connor, Stanley Prusiner and Ken Dychtwald, is worth reading. They maintain that “Medical science has the capacity to relegate Alzheimer’s to the list of formerly intractable diseases like typhoid, polio and many childhood cancers. But unless we get to work now, any breakthrough will come too late to benefit the baby boomers. Whether the aging of many of our clients and family friends are impacted by this devastating disease, it reminds me of the fight against Aids. How will the Boomers galvanize themselves to lead the fight against Alzheimer’s? Who will be the leaders of this effort?.
Home care counselors at A Way to Stay are available to talk with you about your needs. A Way to Stay is a home care agency providing In-Home Care in Yardley.
