The aging of the U.S. population the Prism to focus the increasing number of families, which has become the challenge of caring for people with dementia, said Julie P.W.. Bynum, associate professor at the Dartmouth Institute for health policy & clinical practice. Writing in the April issue of Health Affairs, says that will affect broad-based policy "long Reach" of Alzheimer's, that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
Alzheimer's disease is an important point as opposed to the four chronic diseases that cause that more Todesfälle--cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke and chronic lung disease, Bynum says. With Alzheimer's, there is no possibility to prevent or slow the progression of the disease. It is estimated that cases of 3 million in 2011 to more than 10 million in the year 2050 will rise.
The most striking effects have to do with costs. Because the majority of cases involve over 65, Medicare bears the brunt of the costs. And because patients often require long-term care and their assets survive, Medicaid ends for a large part of which pay for needed nursing home care.
The annual cost of a care for all people over the age of 70 in the United States is estimated at 157 billion in 2010. The price is expected to be $109 billion, higher than comparable costs for cardiovascular disease or cancer ($102 billion and $77 billion or). 2040 editions for dementia patients an estimated $1.2 $1.6 trillion, if no breakthrough treatments emerge.
Additional costs shall be borne by informal (unpaid) carers, such as spouses or family members, the daily basic care and a safe environment offer. But these managers make their own challenges with associated losses in productivity and declines in their own health.
Alzheimer's says far reaching consequences for the political community, as the effects of dementia goes far beyond the individual patient and his caregivers leads, Bynum.
The political implications:
- Science and technology. Financing policy are crucial for research to fill gaps in scientific knowledge about pathophysiological causes of the disease, how to prevent it, to detect early and accurately and to slow down, if not cure.
- Health care. Terms of payment and Medicare regulatory functions have a direct impact on people with dementia, who are heavy users of hospital-based care.
- Long-term services and supports. Payment for nursing homes and strategies to support life in the community are of fundamental importance for people with late disease. Roughly 75 percent of people with dementia spend time in a nursing home at some point in their illness. Medicaid is the primary payer for nursing home two-thirds spending, making budgetary matters, in particular for States.
- Public health. Addressing healthy living and risk factors and community preparedness are important for a population approach to the increasing burden of dementia.
- Housing and communal services. Support crucial for those, who want to stay in their homes, are services such as for example in regard to the rights of older people, food on wheels, carers support, adult day care and senior centers. These community services are care, but less visible federal policy makers less costly than nursing home, because they are organized at the local level.
- Work. New policy assistants, domestic helpers, aides and nursing assistants require to ensure a competent and adequate workforce, especially for practical nursing staff, such as body care challenges.
- Justice and law enforcement. Relevant policies, the legal and law enforcement arena address problems substituted judgment, as well as the need for protection from exploitation, abuse and neglect.
"Complex and expensive care needs patients and more and more people with dementia underline that give need greater attention as society protects and provides cost, that is sustainable, while treating services for this vulnerable population and track healing." Bynum, said.