Receiving a dementia or Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis can be frightening. It’s hard to know what this news means for your older loved one’s long-term health and well-being, or how it will affect their life and communication style in the coming months or years.

Fortunately, there are resources and services available here in Cincinnati that can help your family through this experience. 

Residential memory care, for example, can give your loved one the best quality of life possible as well as offer peace of mind for you and your family members. Likewise, local support groups can help caregivers remember they’re not alone.

Here at Marjorie P. Lee, we’ve also found that learning more about dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can help caregivers cope with the diagnosis as well as help them effectively fulfill their loved one’s needs. 

Let’s take a look at some key dementia statistics together. 

Important Dementia Statistics for Senior Caregivers 

How Many People Get Dementia?

Alzheimer's Disease International estimates that, globally, over 10 million new cases of Alzheimer’s disease are diagnosed each year. That means that one new patient is diagnosed every 3.2 seconds. 

Estimates also suggest over 55 million people in the world were living with dementia in 2020. By 2030, that number could reach 78 million and 139 million by 2050. 

Where Is Dementia Most Prevalent? 

Dementia is present all over the world, in both established and developing countries. Currently, 60% of those with the disease live in low and middle-income countries. 

By 2050, these populations could account for over 71% of cases, with locations like China and India reportedly having some of the highest risk factors.

What About in the United States? 

The Alzheimer’s Association is our primary resource for dementia statistics in the U.S.

Currently, the organization estimates that about 6 million Americans are living with dementia. That’s 1 in every nine people over the age of 65, two-thirds of which are women. However, reports estimate that number could rise to nearly 13 million by 2050. 

It’s also estimated that 1 in 3 seniors in the U.S. dies due to Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. That is a higher percentage than the number of seniors who die from breast and prostate cancer combined. 

How Does Dementia Impact Senior Caregivers? 

It’s also important to consider the caregivers and the impact that dementia and Alzheimer’s disease has on them. 

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 11 million Americans provide unpaid care to relatives or friends with dementia. Those individuals contributed 15.3 billion hours of care in 2020 alone. 

Fortunately, as we mentioned earlier, resources are available. 

Professional Memory Support at Marjorie P. Lee 

Through our Living Well Memory Support program and the guidance of the Center for Memory Support and Inclusion, Marjorie P. Lee seeks to provide engaging opportunities for individuals so they can have the highest quality of life possible within our community, even with cognitive loss. We offer peace of mind for families who want to ensure their loved one has a secure place to call home.

We recognize that each person with dementia has different needs and experiences. That’s why we offer person-centered care and individualized therapies delivered by specially-trained professionals to provide an excellent living environment for residents.

Here are just some of the ways we engage and stimulate our memory care residents: 

• SAIDO Learning: This breakthrough therapy is a non-pharmaceutical intervention that stimulates the cortex to support social engagement within the community and better cognitive skills.
• IN2L: Properly named It’s Never 2 Late, this computer-based therapy uses a variety of  software tools to help holistically enhance the quality of life. It includes cognitive stimulation through games and puzzles, film, and health and wellness programs. 
• Music & Memory: Through this program, we aim to tap into personal memories and stimulate social interactions using personal digital listening devices.
• Events & Activities: In addition to memory support therapies, the life enrichment team offers residents a variety of activities and events. Residents can choose from a variety of arts, spiritual, or entertainment-themed activities! Check out the calendars for the Morris, Kirby, and Luther Households to see what we have planned this month.

Are you looking to learn more about dementia and how you can help fulfill your loved one’s unique needs? Download our free Dementia Guide now.