Statistics

November 02, 2010
It is estimated, by the year 2050, 16 million people will be effected by Alzheimers Disease in the United States alone.   It is estimated 70% of those affected with Alzheimers Disease are cared for in the home, with a ball park cost of about $42,000.00 a year, as of 2006.
Caregivers can become clinically drepressed, requiring medical treatment because of  'caregiver burnout'.  Disease and death can result from the emotional and physical strain of caring for someone with Dementia/Alzheimers.  Caregivers have a higher mortality rate, than those they care for, because of the tremendous strain.
I was fortunate enough to have money from Arts' Trust, to pay for all of the expenses, up until the time I chose to contact Hospice of the Valley.  I cannot say enough about Hospice of the Valley.  Were it not for them, myself and my family would have had a more difficult time.  Art was a patient with Hospice of the Valley for two years.  Once a person is a patient with Hospice of the Valley, all 'out of pocket', or insurance costs, cease, because the expense of sustaining life is over.  No more Neurologists, or Specialists.  The consistent monitoring process, in supporting those with the 'Dibility' of Dementia, begins.  Of course, there is expense to the care and comfort of your loved one, along with medications subscribed by the Hospice Physician, but those expenses are absorbed as part of the Hospice care Umbrella.

Michael was a big help to me in 2008

Nothing is FREE.   Anytime someone gets something for FREE, someone else paid for it.  Even still, when the time comes for you to accept help, know there is a cost somewhere, but you still need the help!!!!!   You still need to educate yourself, so you don't feel guilty, rather, you feel empowered to do the best you can, and allow others to do the best they can.  Being an educated caregiver, with the support you MUST have, and the knowledge you NEED, will make ALL the difference in your attitude, health, ability to care for your loved one, AND be an advocate for them.  I don't care if there is money involved or not, whether you get an inheritance or not, whether noone in the family is helping or not, or whether you lose everything, there will come a day when you have to remember how you handled this.  It will haunt if you don't try, and it will eat you up, if you have alot of regret.  Be an educated caregiver, not a complaining, bitter, ignoramus.  Like my Mother taught me, "all things in this life are temporary", even 10-20 years is temporary.   Blessings will come to you, if you are serving in the right attitude.  If you are caregiving at this time, you are in my prayers.   Like all things, there is good and difficult.  This is your season to do this..........