Happy Alzheimer’s Awareness Month!

November is officially Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. This is the perfect time to better understand how so many families are affected by this disease. Especially since most families don’t see it coming until it’s too late to do any effective planning.

Less than 2 million people were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 1983. Currently, about 5.5 million people have it. By 2050, that number could rise to 60 million. Click here for a breakdown of some simple facts put together by the Alzheimer’s Association. I bet you find a few surprises in there! 

The average long term care insurance (LTCi) claim lasts about three years, although I’ve had many clients’ claims last much longer. In fact, I expect that as more people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, LTCi claims will continue to  lengthen.

In Honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

It’s time to raise your Alzheimer’s awareness! To help you out, here are just a few of the articles that have made the news:

RAND Corporation Reports on the Readiness of the American Health Care System

Here’s a Washington Post article that shares some findings from a recent study from the RAND Corporation.  Turns out, even the health care system is underprepared to treat the rising tide of dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. A major concern is developing early screening. 

Bill Gates Joins the Search for Treatment

Did you hear?? Bill Gates recently invested $50 million in the Dementia Discovery Fund to support their efforts to find more treatment options.

“… my personal experience has exposed me to how hopeless it feels when you or a loved one gets the disease. We’ve seen scientific innovation turn once-guaranteed killers like HIV into chronic illnesses that can be held in check with medication. I believe we can do the same (or better) with Alzheimer’s.”                                                                                                                

You can read more about Gates’ motivation and vision in this thoughtful piece he wrote. 

Honey Leveen –  Past Blogs on Alzheimer’s Disease

Most people are simply unprepared for the physical, financial, and emotional tolls Alzheimer’s can take on the patient, their family and their close friends. I’ve written extensively about this over the years to help raise Alzheimer’s awareness. This link will guide you to a number of past blogs I’ve shared.

Genworth Video Library

As we move to prepare for the likely onset of Alzheimer’s, we know that time is our enemy and knowledge is our greatest defense. Genworth has built a great collection of short videos. You can hear how people have used their long term care insurance plans when these life events happen.

Have You Had The Talk Yet?

There are also some helpful videos that guide us through these difficult conversations with our family. As families are gathering together during this holiday season, take the opportunity to have “The Talk”. Your parents or your children need to understand what’s ahead. Need a little encouragement?

If you are interested in planning for your long term care needs, the first step is getting a quote for good coverage. Click here to receive your personalized quote.