The Growing Alzheimer’s Family
By Alzinfo.org

One in eight older Americans, or some 5.4 million people, has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. And nearly 15 million family members and others are providing unpaid care for them. That means more than 20 million Americans either have Alzheimer’s or provide unpaid care for those with the disease.

Most of those with Alzheimer’s are over 65, including nearly half of those over age 85. Nearly two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women, a result of the fact that women tend to live older then men. At any given age, women and men are equally likely to develop the disease, and every 69 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s.

These are among the findings of a new roundup of facts and figures from the Alzheimer’s Association. The figures reflect the growing burden of Alzheimer’s as our population continues to live longer. In 2000, there were an estimated 411,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s. By 2010, that number had risen to 454,000. It is expected to reach 615,000 by 2030.

Most people with Alzheimer’s live an average of four to eight years, though some can live as long as two decades. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

While about two-thirds of those with advanced Alzheimer’s are cared for in nursing homes, millions of people with the disease are cared for at home through home care. Some 80 percent of the 15 million caregivers who provide unpaid care are family members. Last year, they provided unpaid help on average for nearly 22 hours a week, though for many this figure was much greater. Caregiving can also cause problems with keeping a paid job outside the home.

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For information about how At Your Side Home Care can help your family with home care for your loved one, call 832-271-1600. We are a home care agency providing many services to help your loved one stay comfortably at home. From respite care services to new mom parenting, we are here to provide quality and affordable Houston Home Care.

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Donna Wrabel, LMSW

Co-Owner at At Your Side Home Care

For most of us, the word "home" evokes warm feelings of comfort, security and well-being. For older adults, home also means holding tight to cherished memories and maintaining self-esteem and independence. When illness, injury or age make life a little more challenging, remaining at home in a comfortable, familiar environment encourages recovery and enhances the quality of life. Home can be defined as a private residence, an independent or assisted living facility or even a short term stay in the hospital, we recognize the additional benefits provided by a personal, professional assistant.

Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.

Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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