Dorothys Dementia

Dorothy is getting older every day- and she has dementia on top of it.  Tough! 

• There are 5.8 million more people out there- just like her
• Alzheimer’s is the 6^thleading cause of death in the USA
• 18.5 billion hours of care is given each year
• $234 billion dollars are shelled out to that care
• 16 million Americans provide unpaid care- do the quick math 
• 1 in 3 seniors die of Alzheimer’s or Dementia – more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined
• Only 16% of those who go to routine health checkups get diagnosed – your next checkup take the test
• 2/3^rdof those diagnosed are women
• Hispanics then African-Americans are more likely to have Alzheimer’s/dementia than whites
• “They say” that in 2019 dementia will cost the nation $290 Billion and by 2050 11 Trillion
• Every 65 seconds someone in the USA develops the disease
• People over 65 survive an average of 4-8 years after being diagnosed with dementia- some as long as 20 years with Alzheimer’s
• Caregivers are mostly women age 50 or older-1/3 are daughters-1/3 are those who are still raising their children and giving care to their demented loved one

The future is not looking good. And most of this is not covered by health insurance or Medicare- and the caregivers will be fewer- due to the M&M generation- therefore, this care is mostly out of pocket. Go take the test (-: (you can take one on line)

Suggestion for you to navigate in a more relaxed arena:

• Make sure you help them get their affairs in order at the first signs- don’t wait until it’s too late.  
  • Get control of their finances
  • Find out where their life issuance policy is- their long-term care policy is – savings accounts-and back yard or under the mattress cash is located
  • Get a living will made out- trust me it is more humane than you think- none of us live forever
  • Talk to them about their wishes- how do they want the end of their life to look like
  • Talk to them about their funeral wishes -all of it- form the obituary- to the songs played/sung/to what they want to wear for their final exit
  • Get on the same page as a family- if there is one person is not on board- kick them out- you don’t need them on this journey (harsh- but you will be better off) majority rules (-:
  • Remember to accept them and this disease – this disease does not define them or their life
  • Keep the children included in the demented ones life- it’s a family affair

Tell your loved ones how much you appreciate all that they have taught and done for you and be sure to tell them that you are proud of them-  tell them often that’s it’s ok for them to go on home- you will be okay until you see them again.

Love really is all you need. (the Beatles) (-:

Peace & Love,

Cheryl Doreen