Alzheimer’s Association releases annual report; caregiver burden increases
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — On Wednesday, the Alzheimer’s Association released its 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report.
Those with the association said the report dove deep into national and state statistics surrounding the disease, prevalence, caregiving and costs. Katherine Lambert is the North Carolina regional lead for the Alzheimer’s Association. She said the number of people with Alzheimer’s Dementia is growing.
“That number has grown from 180,000 to now more than 210,000 living right here in North Carolina with the disease,” Lambert said.
With more people living with the disease, she said, there is a bigger demand for caregivers.
Lambert added in our state, there are 373,000 caregivers, providing a total of 723 million hours of unpaid care. Lambert said the unpaid care totaled a $10.9 billion dollar value in North Carolina.
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Samantha Wright is one of those unpaid caregivers.
“Navigating the unknown is very difficult and that’s what I have found because this disease is so unknown in ways of how long will it last, you know, will he be in a worse state in 6 months? 12 months?” Wright said.
Wright said her husband was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s about five years ago.
“Being a caregiver is extremely challenging, mentally, physically, it also means you’re on 24/7. It’s being responsible. Being smart, you’re the one who has to make the decisions and do the best that you can,” she said.
Lambert said there is an emotional, physical, and health-related challenges that come with caring for people with Alzheimer’s. She added nearly 60 percent of caregivers in the state report at least one chronic condition and these caregivers report higher rates of stroke, heart disease and cancer.
Lambert said no one should have to go through this journey alone.
“How do we map this dementia care navigation for someone? So, they’re not having to figure everything out for their own specific needs,” Lambert said.
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Wright said having a support network, whether it be family, legal, or financial is vital in caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s.
“Finding the right people, and there are people that do want to help, and allowing them to help, and also knowing when to ask for help,” Wright said. “It’s important that you create that network for yourself.”
Click here to see the Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report.
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