Dementia Is Not a Solo Affair

Column distributed by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Links to resources referenced:

• 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures
  • https://www.alz.org/getmedia/ef8f48f9-ad36-48ea-87f9-b74034635c1e/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf
    • Related column excerpts: 
      • “According to the Alzheimer’s Association: ‘An estimated 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2025,’ adding that ‘74 percent are age 75 or older.’  See the 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report at alz.org.”
      • “From a financial point of view, dementia could require constant care for many years. The Alzheimer’s Association points out that the ‘total lifetime cost of care for someone with dementia is estimated at $405,262 in 2024 dollars.’ Seventy percent of that cost is ‘borne by family caregivers in the forms of unpaid caregiving and out-of-pocket expenses.’”
• Alzheimer’s Association: “10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Dementia”
  • https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs 
    • Related column excerpts:
      • “Guidelines can be helpful. The Alzheimer’s Association provides a list of ‘10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Dementia’ as well as a chart comparing signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia with typical age-related changes. Among the early signs are challenges in planning or solving problems, difficulty in completing familiar tasks, decreased or poor judgment and changes in mood and personality.” 
• AARP: Your Long-Term Care Worksheet
  • https://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/cs/health/ltc_worksheet.pdf
    • Related column excerpts:
      • “The AARP’s ‘Long Term Care Worksheet’ can be helpful in considering costs.”    
• The Conversation Project: “For Caregivers of People with Alzheimer’s or Other Forms of Dementia”
  • https://theconversationproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/DementiaGuide.pdf 
    • Related column excerpts:
      • “Guides are available. For example, the Conversation Project, which encourages people to talk about their wishes for care through the end of life, offers a guide for caregivers of people who have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.”