Everett Liddiard Mrs. Mensen Advanced English 10B 24 January 2014 Benefits of an Alzheimer’s Patient Living in the Home The Alzheimer’s disease has increasingly effected many people throughout the United States. It not only effects the patients with the condition, it also effects the family members. The family members go through the heart break of seeing their loved one die slowly before their eyes. “Over 5 million Americans have the Alzheimer’s condition, and as many as 16 million will have the disease in 2050.” (“Minnesota Alzheimer’s Statistics”). When we see these statistics it hits more at home, we start to think that the chances of either a family member or even yourself may end up getting diagnosed with the disease are very high. Out of the 5 million Americans with “Alzheimer’s an estimated 4 percent are under 65, 13 percent are 65-74, 44 percent are 75-84, and 38 percent are 85 or older.”(“Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures”). When people hear about Alzheimer’s they might think it’s just a disease that can make people forget memories and daily tasks, but “Alzheimer’s is ...
The disease called Alzheimer’s is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (Weiner, 1987). It is estimated that the elderly population will double between now and 2030. During this period, the number of elderly will grow by an average of 2.8% annually (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). By 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is estimated to range from 11.3 million to 16 million (Alzheimer’s Association, 2005). These startling numbers should prompt an examination into one of the leading causes of death among this group of people. Understanding what Alzheimer’s is and the known causes of the disease are a good starting point. For those who have aging family members, knowing the risk factors and warning signs of Alzheimer’s can be beneficial to both the patient and his family. Finally, once the patient has been diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s, a plan for treatment as well as providing the family and caregivers with a support system can help ease those involved through a very challenging, heartbreaking time.
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that affects cognitive function in the elderly population. It is an irreversible, progressive disease involving decline in memory and other intellectual abilities (Spremo-Potparevic, Živkovic, Plecas-Solarovic & Bajic, 2011). According to the National Institute of Health, the majority of people who have Alzheimer’s are age 65 and older (NIH, 2012). Around two-thirds of Americans who have Alzheimer’s are women. The reason for this may be that women have a longer lifespan than men (NIH, 2012).
...hed and streamlined to allow for earlier diagnosis. In the case of tertiary prevention, the pharmaceutical companies have a huge financial incentive to create a cure for Alzheimer’s but that is not enough. More government funded research should be dedicated towards finding methods to delay or cure Alzheimer’s disease. The baby boomer generation has already entered their 60’s. As people live longer, as a result of new treatments for common killers such as heart disease and cancer, the chances that they will succumb to Alzheimer’s increases. Failing to find preventative or curative measures will be costly. On a personal level, Alzheimer’s disease slowly attacks cognitive function-the higher thought processes; individuals degenerate into infantile dependents. The cost of caring for increasing numbers of such dependents will be a burden on both family and society.
Alzheimer’s disease is a horrific disease that slowly can damage all the normal functions of the human mind; functions like memory, language, and movement that we all take for granted. Alzheimer’s disease is rarely discussed in the public forum, because of the nature of the disease. This essay aimed to breakdown the fundamentals of the disease so that one would know what the disease truly is, what causes this disease, and what the effects of the disease are. Alzheimer’s disease deserves to known about and talk about so that future generations will not have to see the awful effects this disease has. We most definitely are on the right track.
Alzheimer’s is a disease that many people have heard of, but few really know much about. Imagine not being able to remember your loved ones and friends or even how to do simple tasks like dressing yourself and brushing your hair. Now imagine having to dress your mother, who rarely remembers you anymore. This is the reality of life for millions of older people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and the families that care for them. Alzheimer’s causes cognitive function to decrease gradually overtime. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia - affecting around 5 million Americans (alz.org). It is the most fatal disease affecting older people and needs to be taken seriously.
In conclusion, even though patients with Alzheimer’s disease live through a daily struggle, it can be managed if certain precautions are taken. Learning to cope with having Alzheimer’s and taking care of another with Alzheimer’s is very important for recovery and preserving the mental state of a possessor. Within the near future, finding a cure and other treatments will soon be possible. Lastly, although there is no current cure for this disease, by becoming educated it can be conquered in order for a patient to live to their fullest potential.
Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that becomes more prevalent with age. Discovered by German psychologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, it is associated with a memory loss, speech impediment, and dementia. In Canada alone, 500,000 people suffer from this terrible disease and the number of cases is predicted to double by 2031[7]. Worldwide, nearly 44 million people are believed to be experiencing Alzheimer’s disease and every 68 seconds, someone in the United States of America develops Alzheimer’s [8]. Alzheimer’s disease is also the sixth leading cause of death in North America. Furthermore, it is the only leading cause of death that is still increasing in prevalence. Not only fatal, Alzheimer’s is also severely crippling for all the friends and family that are affected by the patient. The memory loss and dementia that is directly linked to Alzheimer’s disease can cause the patient to forget the identity of their loved ones. For the people that have known the patient for many years, this can be very devastating. The long and terrible journey from an able-bodied and functioning member of society to a barely self-sufficient person is not a pleasant one. Undoubtedly, Alzheimer’s disease needs to be cured not only for those suffering from the affliction, but for their loved ones who have to endure the fateful journey as well.
It is inevitable that eventually each of us will grow old and begin to face more and more health problems as our age rises. Elderly people are challenged by many illnesses and diseases that unfortunately, are incurable. One disease that becomes more common as people age is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s a common cause and a form of dementia and can severely damage a patient’s cognitive functions and can ultimately cause death. Living with Alzheimer’s disease can be saddening for both the sufferer and the family. Family and friends will find it very hard to cope when a loved one begins slipping away and losing memory of who they are.
Purpose – I want to bring awareness to the fact that Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.
Dementia is a disease effecting nearly thirty-six million people worldwide (Whiteman, 2014). Even with so many elderly suffering from the disease, there are many people who don’t know what dementia truly is. People often jump too quickly to the conclusion that dementia is a disease that only effects the memory. They may believe that dementia is inevitable and cannot be cured in any case. They may also believe that dementia is something the majority of elderly will experience when they get older.
Dementia is a growing problem in the United States and around the world. There are currently 5.3 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other dementias and this number is expected to increase by 40 percent in the next decade (Alzheimer’s Association, 2015). Dementia care is typically provided by an unpaid caregiver that is a relation or close friend until the patient is admitted to a long term care facility such as assisted living or a nursing home. Once the patient has been admitted to a facility, the caregiver still provides care for the dementia patient just in another capacity.
Aging seems simple, although, this process has escalated where it can be a hindrance to the individual and others around them. Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia, is where nerve cells that control memory, language, and reasoning are gradually being destroyed in the brain inhibiting daily functions (Draper 5). This ailment transforms the life of the victim which causes them to rely on caregivers for support. Although, the caregivers are generous to provide aid, this task can be overwhelming to them. Alzheimer’s not only effects the patient but the caregivers around them bringing stress, frustration, and depression in their lives.
The Alzheimer’s disease has turned prevalent in the United States. The number of affected people is reported to grow every year. The disease does not only affect the patients and their families but also the society at large calling for participation of every person and agency to address it. This task explores how the disease affects the society, assesses its impact on families, the elderly and care givers, and projects the role of social worker in addressing this issue.
The benefits of early diagnosis has endless possibilities. If diagnosed early on, the individual afflicted and his/her family have the opportunities to begin treatment early - allowing, depending on the type of dementia, to either eradicate it completely, or ease the symptoms later in life (Alzheimer’s Association). Likewise, they will have more time to start saving and planning financially; nationally, the cost of care for dementia patients exceeded $236 billion in 2016, around $5000 a year for each family (“2016 Alzheimer’s Statistics”). Not only will planning provide less stress and anxiety, a common enemy amongst families of dementia patients, but it will also allow patients a chance to participate in clinical drug trials and develop a
Dementia is a major neurocognitive disorder that interferes with the independence of the elderly by inhibiting memory and thinking skills. Fifty to eighty percent of dementia cases constitute of Alzheimer’s diagnoses; consequently Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and currently affects 5.2 million Americans. Most of these cases are patients above the age of 65 and by 2050; 13.8 million Americans in total will suffer Alzheimer’s due to aging of the general population, specifically the baby boomers. Total cost to society ranges from $157- $215 billion (Associated Press). Some would assume the cost of Alzheimer’s to be incurred by pharmaceuticals or medical costs, however RAND Corp suggests dementia cost to society is from care rather than treatment. Therefore, assistance provided by informal providers and directs caregivers incur a majority of the financial and social cost. Currently, the workforce does not have the capacity or training to care for these unique patients; the delivery system needs to address Alzheimer’s as the population ages and more and more fam...