Report also provides latest statistics and information on Alzheimer’s prevalence, incidence, mortality and cost

of care in Wisconsin and nationally

FOR WAUSAU TIMES

The Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report reveals that both dementia caregivers and health care workers report difficulties in navigating dementia care within the U.S. healthcare system. The report provides an in-depth look at the latest national and state-level statistics on Alzheimer’s disease prevalence, mortality, caregiving, dementia care workforce and costs of care. The new report estimates that 6.9 million people age 65 and older in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, including 110,900 in Wisconsin.

This year the cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is projected to reach $360 billion — a $15 billion increase from a year ago. This does not include unpaid care provided by family caregivers and friends. Last year in Wisconsin there were 205,000 dementia family caregivers, providing 297 million hours of unpaid care valued at $5.528 billion.

Wisconsin caregivers and those across the country face significant emotional, physical and

health-related challenges as result of caregiving as well, according to the report:

● Dementia caregivers report higher rates of chronic conditions, including stroke, heart disease,

diabetes, and cancer compared to caregivers of people without dementia or non-caregivers. In

Wisconsin, 62.9% of caregivers reported at least one chronic condition.

● The prevalence of depression is higher among dementia caregivers when compared to caregivers

for other conditions. In Wisconsin, 27.8% caregivers reported depression.

● Seventy-four percent of dementia caregivers report they are “somewhat concerned” to “very

concerned” about maintaining their own health since becoming a caregiver. In Wisconsin, 18.9%

report frequent poor physical health.

● Across the country, 59% of dementia caregivers report high to very high emotional stress due to

caregiving and 38% report high to very high physical stress due to caregiving.

“The new Facts and Figures report sheds light on the continued challenges that many Wisconsin families are going through as a result of Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” said Dave Grams, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin Chapter. “As the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s continues to grow, ensuring patients, their caregivers and families have a clear understanding of how to navigate dementia care resources is critical to improving health outcomes.”

An accompanying special report, “Mapping a Better Future for Dementia Care Navigation, provides a comprehensive look into dementia care navigation by surveying dementia caregivers and health care workers on their experiences, challenges, awareness and perceptions of care navigation in dementia care.

Dementia care navigation provides clinical and nonclinical support to people living with dementia and their caregivers to overcome barriers that compromise care and health outcomes.

Key findings:

● In 2023, 11.5 million family and other caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s or other

dementias provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid help. On average, this represents

nearly 31 hours of care per caregiver per week or 1,612 hours per caregiver per year.

● A majority of caregivers (70%) report that coordination of care is stressful.

● More than half of the caregivers surveyed (53%) said that navigating health care was

difficult.

● 2 in 3 caregivers (66%) also have difficulty finding resources and support for their needs.

● The top five stressors for caregivers are:

● Cost (reported by 42% of caregivers).

● Coordinating with multiple doctors (36%).

● Securing appointments (35%)

● Getting help taking a break (35%).

● Finding appropriate doctors (32%).

● Care navigation facilitates medical and social support to alleviate patient and caregiver stress.

Despite coordinating care and scheduling being top stressors for caregivers, only half of the

caregivers surveyed (51%) have ever talked with a healthcare professional about challenges

finding their way through the healthcare system or asked for help with dementia care.

● Black and Hispanic caregivers report managing care on a daily basis (43% and 45%,

respectively) compared to White caregivers (31%).

● The vast majority of dementia caregivers (97%) say that they would find navigation services

helpful. Services cited most often by caregivers include:

● A 24/7 helpline (36%).

● Help with coordinating care and communication between different specialists (34%).

● Getting help in understanding their care recipient’s condition (34%).

● 60% of health care workers surveyed believe that the U.S. healthcare system is not effectively

helping patients and their families navigate dementia care. Nearly half (46%) say that their

organizations do not have a clearly defined process for care coordination and clinical pathways

for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.

Get additional statistics from the report for Alzheimer’s disease prevalence, mortality, cost of care, caregiving and dementia care workforce. Full text of the 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, including the accompanying special report, Mapping a Better Future for Dementia Care Navigation, can be viewed at alz.org/facts. The report will also appear in the May 2024 issue of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.