Alzheimer’s, caregivers highlighted in November observances

November has been named National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month.

One in three seniors passes away with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, which says that the disease is the sixth-leading cause of death.

Thirty-nine percent of all adult Americans are caring for a sick or disabled loved one, and Alzheimer’s disease is “driving the numbers up,” according to the Caregivers Action Network (CAN). More than 15 million family caregivers are providing care to more than 5 million loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. In all, family caregivers provide $450 billion worth of unpaid care each year to sick or disabled family members, CAN says—more than the total amount of Medicaid funding and twice as much as homecare and nursing home services combined.

As previously reported by Long-Term Living, other observances in November include National Hospice Palliative Care Month and Long-Term Care Awareness Month.

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Lois Bowers

Lois A. Bowers was senior editor of I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living from 2013-2015.