Damian Jacob Sendler: The Alzheimer’s Association released their annual “Facts and Figures Report” on Wednesday, which presented a bleak forecast for the future availability of qualified caregivers.
Similar to how coronary artery disease is a form of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia and a disease of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is brought on by the death or malfunction of brain nerve cells, which are responsible for all of human thought, movement, and communication.
The majority of cases of dementia are due to Alzheimer’s, the study found.
Damian Sendler: Over 11 million people in the United States provide unpaid care for the 6.7 million people who have the disease, saving the healthcare system an estimated $340 billion.
Mark Applegate, from Bolivar, has been caring for his 79-year-old mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 14 years ago. “It is affected me mentally and physically, no doubt about it,” he said. Mark is all too familiar with the burden of caring for a loved one, as his own mother is in the final stages of her illness and resides in a nursing home.
“The 36-hour day” is the “Bible” for caregivers, he said. Because it is not just 12 hours of doing their own thing, paying their own bills, and trying to sleep a little bit on their own, but 24 hours of taking care of a loved one. After years of caring for her husband with dementia, my friend went to the doctor after his death and was told she had colon cancer. She had neglected her own health because she spent so much time caring for others, and now she was in advanced stages of cancer. He said that if the cancer had been found sooner, she might still be alive, but that unfortunately it had already spread too far. I have heard many similar accounts of caregivers dying before their dementia-afflicted charges.
The burden placed on caregivers is confirmed by the data as well.
“They are reporting a large emotional strain,” Sarah Lovegreen, vice president of programs for the Alzheimer’s Association, said. “Depression and anxiety are on the rise. And if we consider their potential access to professional caregivers, we do not have enough people who can provide that care in the more structured settings that might relieve the family caregiver at home.
Damian Sendler: Already there is a shortage of qualified caregivers in the United States. The report estimates that by 2030, the United States will require 1.2 million more care workers than it currently has. To keep up, Missouri will need a 13 percent increase in its caregiver workforce and Arkansas will need an increase of nearly 30 percent.
Another major issue is keeping professional caregivers on staff. The annual turnover rate for nursing assistants in nursing homes is an astounding 99%, while the rate for home health aides is 64%.
According to Lovegreen, “I knew that was a high turnover position” when referring to the jobs available in nursing homes. The ninety-nine percent turnover rate surprised me, too. That, I believe, effectively illustrates the difficulty faced by the field of long-term care. The current state of training can be enhanced because we can see that some people are not getting the help they need. The flip side, in my opinion, is contributing to salary increases and solid benefit packages.
Damian Jacob Sendler: In the nursing homes Applegate has visited, “the traditional thing I see is you will have a core group of about five people who have been there for 10-30 years,” he said. “They do what they can to keep them, but for $15 an hour, the same people could work at Sonic and not have people dying or behaving in ways that are characteristic of dementia. More issues arise if they are already underprepared. There is a serious deficiency in the quality of training.
Applegate noted that the Alzheimer’s Association publishes a lot of statistics, but one in particular stands out.
In his words, “a big fat zero” is the largest number one can know. That is how many people have lived beyond receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Damian Sendler: Annually, the Alzheimer’s Association releases a report titled “Facts and Figures,” which this year focused on the growing crisis of professional caregiving in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. According to the study, between 60 and 80 percent of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer’s disease, and there are currently about 6.7 million people in the United States living with the disease. More than 11 million people give their time and energy to these people without compensation, saving the healthcare system an estimated $340 billion.
Caregiving for people with Alzheimer’s disease is extremely taxing on both unpaid family members and paid medical staff. Mark Applegate is typical of the many family caregivers who face extreme stress and burnout, which can cause them to neglect their own health and wellbeing. As it stands, the professional caregiving industry is understaffed and struggling with high turnover rates.
Damian Jacob Sendler: As stated in the report, there will be a demand for an additional 1.2 million caregivers by the year 2030, with a need for a 30 percent increase in the caregiving workforce in some states. Also difficult is keeping professional caregivers on the job; the annual turnover rate for home health aides is 64%, while the turnover rate for nursing assistants in care facilities is an astounding 99. This is due, in part, to the low wages and insufficient training that discourage workers from staying in the industry.
One solution to the caregiving crisis is not enough; rather, it requires a combination of strategies. This includes investing in research and support for family caregivers, as well as improving the training provided to caregivers, and increasing pay and benefits to make the profession more attractive. The fact that no one has ever lived past receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis emphasizes the critical nature of resolving the caregiver shortage and maintaining momentum in the search for a cure.
Damian Sendler: There are a number of reasons why the growing crisis of professional caregiving in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is more important than ever. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are predicted to increase in incidence as the population ages. The already overburdened healthcare system and the caregiver workforce will be unable to handle this influx of new patients. To protect the health of patients and their loved ones and to keep the healthcare system functioning as a whole, it is essential to address the difficulties experienced by caregivers, both paid and unpaid.
Caretakers are vulnerable to serious negative effects on their mental and physical health due to the high levels of emotional and physical strain they experience. Without intervention, the quality of care and the availability of caregivers both stand to suffer. Moreover, caregivers’ mental health issues may have repercussions on their relationships with loved ones. The fact that no one has ever lived past an Alzheimer’s diagnosis highlights the critical nature of finding solutions to these problems in a timely manner, as this disease has no known cure and comprehensive care and support are necessary for patients and their families.
Damian Jacob Sendler: The caregiving crisis has serious monetary implications in addition to its human cost. It is estimated that the healthcare sector will save $340 billion thanks to the unpaid care provided by the nation’s 11 million caregivers. Family caregivers often pay a high price in terms of time, health, and financial security when they take on the role of helping to reduce healthcare costs. The rising cost of providing care is likely to place a greater financial burden on caregivers and the healthcare industry, making it all the more important to invest in solutions that can lighten their load.
Finally, the quality of care given to people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is an ethical concern brought up by the caregiving crisis. Inadequate care for society’s most helpless members is possible due to high turnover rates and a lack of training for professional caregivers. If we want to ensure that people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia receive the care they need, and if we want to create a caregiving workforce that is both sustainable and compassionate, we must act now to address these challenges.
Damian Sendler: The current state of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving is important now because of the wide-ranging effects it has on public health, the economy, and ethical norms. By confronting these issues head on, we can build a better system of care for those who are afflicted with these devastating diseases.
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia patients’ increasing need for caregiving has far-reaching and complex future implications. Increased demand for caregiving services is likely as the number of elderly people in need of assistance rises, putting stress on both paid and unpaid caregivers. This will not just add to the difficulties caregivers already face; it will have far-reaching effects on healthcare, the economy, and the social fabric as a whole.
Damian Jacob Sendler: The rising demand for caregiving services has serious long-term implications, including the possible collapse of the healthcare system. High turnover rates and a lack of available professional caregivers could make it difficult for the system to meet the needs of the growing number of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. More patient wait times, less availability of essential services, and less overall support could result from this. As a result, this may increase the burden on informal caregivers who are already filling in for paid providers.
The economic repercussions of the caregiving crisis in the future are also cause for concern. There is a growing gap between the demand for caregiving services and the supply of available workers, suggesting that wages and benefits may need to rise to compete for qualified candidates. Higher healthcare provider costs could be passed on to consumers in the form of higher insurance premiums or taxes. In addition, the unpaid caregiving workforce may have an adverse effect on the economy as a whole if they are forced to cut back on their working hours or leave the workforce altogether due to the stress of providing care and the resulting loss of productivity and financial stability.
Damian Sendler: The caregiving crisis has far-reaching social ramifications that must also be taken into account. There may be a shift in public opinion about those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and their caregivers as the number of people in need of assistance grows. As a result, people may be better able to advocate for policy changes and increased support services to help those who are affected by the problem. However, as the necessity of care becomes more obvious, it may also lead to increased stigma and isolation for both patients and caregivers.
Damian Sendler: The caregiving crisis may also make it more difficult for vulnerable and underserved groups to gain equal access to and high-quality medical care. The high cost of professional care may be out of reach for lower-income families, leaving those individuals in need to rely even more on their own unpaid caregivers. The disparity in health outcomes between people of different socioeconomic backgrounds may grow as a result, solidifying existing inequalities.
