Dementia and Alzheimer’s Caregiving: Facts & Figures
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Caregiving: Facts & Figures
Most patients that are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are commonly first diagnosed with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) or Dementia. The symptoms are often similar at the onset, so diagnosing is more difficult. The numbers surrounding caregiving are as shocking as the diseases themselves. Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only leading disease without a treatment, cure or prevention. Without the noble help of caregivers, patients and loved ones with MCI, Dementia and Alzheimer’s would be in much worse shape. Here are the facts and figures of dementia, Alzheimer’s and their heroic caregivers:
- Caregivers across the U.S.: More than 16 million in 2018 and climbing each year.
- Age of caregivers: More than 40% of all caregivers are 50-64 years old.
- Age of Care Recipient: 70% of caregiving recipients are 75 years old or older.
- Duration of care:more than half (57%) of family caregivers of people with any type of dementia have provided care for 4 or more years.
- Number of hours:In 2018, volunteer caregivers in the U.S. provided an estimated 18.5 billion hours of unpaid care. An average of 21.9 hours of care per caregiver per week.
- In Care Facility: Although 16% of patients with dementia live in a care facility, the majority live at home or with another family member.
- Value of care:Based on an average of $12.64 per hour, the unpaid Alzheimer’s care provided in 2018 was valued at $233.9 billion. That amount is more than 11 times the total revenue of McDonald’s in 2018 ($21.03 billion).
- Out-of-pocket costs:On average, caregivers reported spending $11,233 (per year) for medical, personal care and household expenses for the person with dementia.
- Personal toll:A Stanford University study reported that caregivers have a 63% higher mortality rate than non-caregivers, and 40% of Alzheimer’s caregivers die from stress-related disorders before the person for whom they are caring. Join a support group today!
- Double responsibilities: One in four caregivers report they are “sandwich generation” caregivers, meaning they care for children under age 18 as well as an aging parent.
Statistics provided by National Alliance in Caregiving. Artwork “Care” by Robin Mõttus (Estonia) and “Rybunie” by shichinin-tai (Poland).
