Alzheimer's Patients May Face Cuts

A recent report in the L.A. Times describes the plight of Seniors in California, particularly those afflicted with Alzheimer's:

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to shut down the state's adult day healthcare centers, which provide services to help the elderly continue living at home. Also eliminated would be a program that funds Alzheimer's care at these and other centers. The governor would end home care for all but the neediest, and eliminate programs that help families of the elderly navigate the complicated system of care and get some respite.

"We are talking about a devastation of the safety net for these families that wasn't really robust to begin with," said Debra Cherry, vice president of the Alzheimer's Assn.'s Southland chapter. "Without any community support, these families are going to crumble."

Schwarzenegger said he does not want to hurt patients or their families, but the financial crisis leaves him no choice but to make wide-ranging cuts".

The Alzheimer's Association of America just released a new report-- 2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Some of the stats:

• As many as 5.3 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s.
  

• Alzheimer's and dementia triple healthcare costs for Americans age 65 and older.
  

• Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
  

• Alzheimer's is the seventh-leading cause of death.
  

• The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year.

As more Californians enter the 65 and older age group Alzheimer's rates will soar. As reported by the study:

"...between 2000 and 2025, it also is clear that across the country, states and regions are expected to experience double-digit percentage increases overall in the numbers of people with Alzheimer’s. Compared with the numbers of people with Alzheimer’s estimated for 2000, the South, Midwest and West are expected to experience increases that will result in 30–50 percent (and greater) increases over the 25-year period. The increased numbers of people with Alzheimer’s will have a marked impact on states’ infrastructures and healthcare systems, not to mention on families and caregivers".

It is clear that the time is NOW to start discussing options for an aging populace suffering from dementia. Not all solutions will be...or can be...based on government funding. (As our current budget crisis shows us here in California.) Cash- and time-strapped families are going to have to provide more care giving to elderly relatives--with little support. What about dementia patients who don't have families or in-home support?

Like so many of the challenges we are facing these days...not a pretty picture.