Some diseases are harder to diagnose than others. Common signs and symptoms may go unnoticed or even be explained away. Such is often the case with dementia, a disease that now affects over 5 million Americans. Because it strikes mostly elderly patients, the condition is often mistaken for memory loss associated with aging. But dementia is actually a brain disease for which forgetfulness is a symptom.
Most of us have heard of Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia. However, there are several other types of the disorder, and patients can even suffer from more than one type of dementia. Doctors and researchers aren't exactly sure what causes the condition, but they do know that it is far more likely to affect the elderly, which is bad news for America.
Dementia care service costs are rising
Because we have an aging population and health care costs are rising, it is more expensive than ever to take care of a person who suffers from dementia, a disease with no known cure. What begins as simple forgetfulness will inevitably progress into a more debilitating disorder in time. A perfectly healthy elderly individual with dementia can go from forgetful to incapable of caring for themselves in only a few short years. This happens because certain areas of the brain are damaged by the disease, which can cause a whole host of problems, from impulse to motor control.
In addition to the human toll of the disease, dementia also hurts the economy. According to medical professionals, it takes three adults to care for one dementia patient, whether they're doctors, nurses, orderlies, or home health aides. In most cases, of course, the primary caregivers are relatives, since few families can afford the ever-rising costs of fulltime care.
There are now an estimated 15 million unpaid caregivers in America, and that number is projected to double by 2050, when the largest generation in the nation's history enters extreme old age. There are approximately 78 million baby boomers in America today, which will result in a doubling of the cases of dementia by 2050, if no cure is found.
Planning for dementia care service
A staggering one in every three senior dies with some form of dementia, according to a new report. Although Alzheimer's isn't always the direct cause of death, it does make it more difficult to treat other serious illnesses, including cancer and heart disease. In that way, it actually exacerbates aging and shortens the life spans of the people it affects. Not to mention the toll it takes on the family.
As we mentioned, most families cannot afford fulltime dementia care service. With that said, they should not attempt to care for a dementia sufferer all on their own. The patient must be watched 24/7/365. At any time of the day or night they could wander out of their home or apartment and get lost or injured. It truly is too much responsibility for any single person to take on, even if they are young and able bodied.
The good news is that dementia care services can be purchased a la carte, or as needed. If your loved one requires regular transportation to the hospital, a bus can pick them up. You can also arrange for a home health aide to come by several hours a day, while you are at work. That way, the responsibility of caring for you elderly parent or relative can be shared by several qualified professionals.
From personal health care services to transportation and meal preparation, LifeCare Companions provides compassionate in-home care for seniors that require dementia care services in the Palm Beach area. We can handle as little or as much of your dementia home care as you and your family needs. For more information on our services, please visit http://www.lifecarecompanions.com/
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