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Alzheimer's and You

One of the most common health problems of aged people is dementia, and about 70 percent of all cases of dementia are due to Alzheimer's disease. At its onset, Alzheimer’s disease is marked by simple forgetfulness, especially of recent events or directions to familiar places. People with Alzheimer's may experience personality changes, such as poor impulse control and judgment, distrust, increased stubbornness, and restlessness. The initial changes are often subtle which makes it difficult to diagnose Alzheimer's in its early stages. The next stage of the disease is characterized by greater difficulty in doing things that require planning, decision-making, and judgment. Social withdrawal begins. Eventually, people with Alzheimer's disease cannot do simple tasks of daily life such as eating, bathing, and using the toilet. They may have a hard time recognizing all but their closest daily companions. Communication of all kinds becomes difficult. Withdrawal from family members begins. In the final stages, patients become bedridden, and are unable to recognize themselves or their closest family members. They may make small, purposeless movements and communicate only by screaming occasionally. A vegetative state may ensue. Death often results from pneumonia and from complications of immobility. Although there is much variability, the average survival time is 8 to 10 years after the onset of dementia.

The most consistent and significant risk factor associated with Alzheimer's is increasing age. Rates of infliction double about every five years after the age of 60.  Other risk factors for Alzheimer's appear to include genetic. For example, there is an increased risk for Alzheimer's in individuals with affected relatives, and women seem to be at increased risk, too. This dependency on age will lead to an intensification of Alzheimer’s disease in the near future. Increased life expectancy and aging populations will result in a doubling of the number of Alzheimer’s patients within the next 30-40 years.

The chronic debilitating nature of Alzheimer's makes it one of the most costly diseases.  Initially, the patient’s family and her relatives bear the greatest part of these costs since they spend numerous hours per week providing informal care to an Alzheimer's patient.  Eventually, the typical patient becomes institutionalized, and the patient’s family and her relatives continue to bear the greatest part of these costs because 80% or more of the costs involve custodial care that is not covered by Medicare.

If you are age 50-65 and uninsured or underinsured for LTC costs, you are at a greater risk than others.  The Medi-Cal system is headed towards explosion, as more and more demands are placed upon it by a rapidly aging population.  Those already over 65 who are going to be inflicted with Alzheimer's have a better chance of having the costs of their care covered by Medi-Cal.  If you are, say, in the 40-50 age group, you have more time to prepare if you use your time wisely.  But if you are in the 50-65 age group, the system may collapse just as you are trying to access it, and you don't have that much time left to prepare.  Nobody really knows what will happen to those who are not prepared.

Related Article: Huge Increases in Alzheimer's

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