Rachel Bachhuber, the Walk to End Alzheimer's Manager for the Western WI/New Richmond Walk since January 2021, summarized the services the Alzheimer's Association provides in the local community and how the Walk to End Alzheimer's event contributes to these services and impacts global research. She emphasized that the mission of the Alzheimer's Association is a world without Alzheimer's disease and all other dementia.
The term dementia covers many forms, with estimates of 60-80% Alzheimer’s, 5-10%, Lewy Body Dementia, 5-10% Vascular Dementia, 5-10% Frontal Temporal Dementia , along with Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. Treatments work best early in the disease but 60% of people say they would wait until symptoms are more obvious before they would see a doctor.
More than 6 million Americans have Alzheimer’s with projected growth to 13 million by 2050. Between 2000-2019 deaths from heart disease have decreased 7.3% while deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have increased 145%. Alzheimer’s kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
There are 11 million dementia caregivers providing 16 billion hours of care valued at $271 billon. In Wisconsin there are 120,000 people with dementia and 198,000 people caring for a loved one. Caregivers alter their lives: 18% reduce paid work to part-time, 9% quit work, some worked 35 hours of paid work while providing care, 6% decided to retire early, 57% must leave work early or arrive late or take time off from paid work. Women are more often caregivers than men.
In 2022 Alzheimer’s will cost the nation $321 billion, in 2050 it will cost $1 trillion.
The Alzheimer’s Association works to accelerate global research, drive risk reduction and early detection, and maximize quality care and support. The Alzheimer’s help line is 800-272-3900. Educational material is available at alz.org. Community Resources can be found at communityresourcefinder.org.
The Alzheimer’s Association raises money through their “WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’s” events. On September 17 there will be a WALK in New Richmond. The walk is only 1.7 miles, and walkers can drop out at different points. Our local Edward Jones office has a team walking and you can join them if you like. Contact Kendra Morgan at kendra.morgan@edwardjones.com For more information go to act.alz.org/westernwi
Contact information for Rachel Bachhuber is rebachhuber@alz.org