Alzheimer’s Association
Supporting Families impacted by trauma & loss
The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. While there are a number of clinical trials in progress and promising results, currently there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimers.
Dementia is a progressive condition that can have a devastating effect on individuals, families, carers, and society. It’s caused by different brain diseases, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia or Alzheimer’s can impact a person’s life in many ways, including:
Memory loss:
People with early-onset Alzheimer’s may misplace things or have trouble finding their way back to them.
Mood changes:
People may become more anxious, sad, or irritable. They may also withdraw from social situations or lose interest in hobbies.
Language and communication:
People may have trouble finding the right word or following conversations.
Visual-perceptual difficulties:
People may have trouble judging distances, which can be especially problematic when using stairs.
Planning and problem-solving:
People may have difficulty with daily tasks like cooking, paying bills, or driving.
Relationships:
People may experience changes in their relationships, including with their children.
Finances:
People’s finances may be affected.
Employment:
People’s employment may be affected if they’re working.
Rising Dementia Rates: A Looming Medical and Social Crisis
The number of people with dementia, which currently costs the United Kingdom £17bn (€25bn; $33bn) a year, will increase from 700,000 at present to more than a million in less than 20 years and to 1.7 million by 2050, creating a potential medical and social crisis.
Dementia
is an umbrella term describing a group of symptoms that affect cognitive functions like memory, reasoning, and communication skills. Dementia can result from various underlying conditions, such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease
is a specific type of dementia and is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s is a progressive, degenerative brain disease that primarily affects memory, thinking, and behavior, typically involving abnormal protein deposits (amyloid plaques and tau tangles) that damage and kill brain cells.
The cost of dementia care in the United States is projected to increase from $360 billion in 2024 to nearly $1 trillion by 2050. Families bear the majority of the financial burden, spending more on dementia care than on other conditions. The cost of care is particularly high in the last year of life.
In the United States, an estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. This number is projected to increase to 13.8 million by 2060. Experts estimate that more than 7 million people ages 65 or older had dementia in 2020. If current trends continue, more than 9 million Americans could have dementia by 2030 and nearly 12 million by 2040.
The disease not only affects the individual, but it also affects the entire family and caregiving support structure, especially those afflicted by Early Onset Dementia.
Early Onset Dementia
(EOD), which occurs before the age of 65, poses unique and severe challenges for families and caregivers, often falling into the ‘sandwich generation’ – those simultaneously caregiving for aging parents and starting or raising their own families.
This situation is further complicated by careers and the financial burden. In essence, early onset dementia disrupts families during their most productive years, which sandwich generation caregivers bear dual burden – providing for their children and a parent. This reality not only imposes an immediate financial strain but also amplifies long-term emotional, social, and psychological impacts, affecting every generation involved.
In the UK, it is estimated that 70,800 people are suffering from Early Onset Dementia compared to the 640,000 estimated in the United States. Approximately 11% of American adults have private long-term care insurance, with the percentage rising to 14% among those aged 65 and older. This indicates that a relatively small portion of the U.S. population has secured private coverage for long-term care needs.
Whitney Vauvelle’s connection to Alzheimers
Whitney’s late mother, Clara Belker, was diagnosed with Early Onset Dementia at 64 and Whitney was her main caregiver until she passed away at the age of 73. It was a very challenging time in Whitney’s life when she was trying to become a mother herself and fundraise for a start-up software company called The Music Producer.
Through this journey, Whitney gained a profound understanding of the emotional toll and financial strain that early onset dementia places on families, particularly those in the sandwich generation. Her first-hand experience fuels her mission to empower others facing similar challenges, offering guidance, support, and transformative tools through The Innerpreneur. Her story is a testament to resilience and compassion, inspiring others to find strength, peace, and purpose amidst the demands of caregiving as well as any other challenge along the way.
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