A longer lifespan and the large Baby Boomer generation are the likely causes of the 54% increase in the number of people who died from Alzheimer’s disease in 2014 compared to 1999, according to Reuters in "U.S. Alzheimer's deaths jump 54 percent, many increasing dying at home."
In fact, 13.8 million Americans are expected to have Alzheimer's by 2050.
Consequently, families need to be prepared to deal with the disease now more than ever.
Over the same time period, the number of people who passed away from Alzheimer's at home nearly doubled to 24.9 percent.
It is difficult enough for families to handle the disease when the sufferer is being treated in a nursing home or other facility. However, when the patient is still living at home, families can have even bigger issues and often need more support than is available.
What these numbers reveal is that the U.S. needs to plan for the care that all of these expected patients will be needing, as well as including support for the caregivers at home.
Reference: Reuters (May 25, 2017) "U.S. Alzheimer's deaths jump 54 percent, many increasing dying at home."
