ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE TRIPLES HEALTHCARE COSTS FOR AMERICANS AGED 65 OR OLDER

In New Jersey

• An estimated 350,000 individuals and their care partners are affected by Alzheimer's disease in New Jersey.
  
• In 2008, 290,550 caregivers provided 250,802,854 hours of unpaid care, totaling $2,783,911,684.
  
• In 2007, over half of the 116,562 individuals living in nursing homes had very mild to severe cognitive impairment.
  
• On average, caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias provide more hours of help, than caregivers of other older people, and this amount of time increases as the disease worsens.
  
• Many caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias experience serious health problems associated with the stress of caregiving.

Nationally

• In 2009, an estimated 5.3 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer's disease.
  
• Every 70 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's disease.  By mid-century, someone will develop Alzheimer's every 33 seconds.
  
• In 2006, Alzheimer's disease was the seventh leading cause of death across all ages in the U.S.; it was the fifth-leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older.
  
• In 2008, 9.9 million family members, friends and neighbors provided unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.  Almost 10 million Americans provide care for a family member, friend or neighbor with Alzheimer’s disease.
  
• Women are more likely than men to have Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, primarily because women live longer, on average, and their longer life expectancy increases the time during which they could develop these diseases.
  
• In 2005, the direct costs to Medicare and Medicaid for care for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and the indirect costs to businesses for employees who were caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias amounted to more than $148 billion.
  
• African-Americans are more likely than Caucasians to have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, but further analyses of this relationship indicate that it is primarily explained by factors other than race.
  
• One in eight persons aged 65 and older (13 percent) have Alzheimer’s disease.
  
• In the next two years, the first baby boomers will reach their 65th birthday.  In 2029, all baby boomers will be at least 65 years old.  The estimated 70 million people aged 65 and older will have a significant impact on the U.S. healthcare system.
  

Now is the time to act.  Donate online now, or find out how you can get involved to help.  Click here for the full 2009 Facts and Figures Report.