Don't Forget about Alzheimer's

by Debra Leib


People over 65 have a 1 in 10 chance of developing Alzheimer's disease; and people over 85, having a 50-50 chance, are the fastest growing population. Medicare expenditures for those with Alzheimer's right now are nearly three times higher than the average for all beneficiaries.

Several of the warning questions of Alzheimer's are frightening to many of us. They have to do with memory loss:

Answering yes to just those questions is not nearly enough to identify Alzheimer's, but it's estimated that about 4.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease. And more significantly perhaps is the fact that if no cure is found by 2050, around 13.2 million of today's baby boomer generation will have the disease. These numbers more than concern the Alzheimer's Association, Heart of America Chapter, located in Prairie Village with four satellite offices. Given that their long term goal is to be out of business, according to executive director Debra Leib, those increasing numbers require amplified re- search, additional support and escalating costs.

"In our direct service area," she points out, "more than 50,000 individuals are estimated to have Alzheimer's and nearly 200,000 family members and caregivers are affected by its emotional, physical and financial challenges. Our priority is to ensure that the lives and voices of those with Alzheimer's are not lost. We want anyone affected to be aware of our programs and services." The numbers are boggling, far beyond the suffering, it is a very expensive disease--expensive for the patients, their families, their governments. The cost of $100 billion annually is most often seen. Part of that figure is the cost to business--which for 2002, is estimated at more than $61 billion--the equivalent of the net profits of the top ten Fortune 500 companies and nearly twice the amount calculated four years ago.

People over 65 have a 1 in 10 chance of developing Alzheimer's disease; and people over 85, having a 50-50 chance, are the fastest growing population. Between 2011 and 2030, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that the number of elderly will rise from 40 million to 70 million--20 percent of the population. And by 2100, the over-100 population is expected to number 5.3 million. Medicare expenditures for those with Alzheimer's right now are nearly three times higher than the average for all beneficiaries. Within a decade, total annual Medicare costs for people with Alzheimer's will increase by almost 55%--to nearly $50 billion. What will it be by 2030?

In the meantime, the local chapter continues to enhance its services which, in turn, continue to grow. For example, the Mollie Tivol Alzheimer's Family Resource Center provides books, brochures, videos and other resources on Alzheimer's. The Family Connections Program offers individual and family care planning. The Memories in the Making© art program provides a means of creative expression. The Safe Return program is a national patient registry developed to respond to the problem of wandering. Over 100 support groups meet at least monthly throughout the area for family members to get together for peer support and to exchange information. The Chapter is supported solely by donations, program grants and participation in fundraising events. They spend almost $1.5 million on programs and services in the community and "raise every penny of that amount," Leib points out. "Financial support is increasingly important."

The largest fundraising events are the Tivol Golf Classic, to be held at LionsGate on June 14, which usually raises around $100,000. The Memory Walk, probably the most recognized event and held annually on the first Saturday of October, raises about $150,000. Their newest event, Memories in the Making Art Auction, which this past September raised $70,000, is another example of fundraising efforts. The Association's vision has always been "A World without Alzheimer's." Leib passionately says, "We are doing everything we can to fight this awful disease, and everything we can to support those who are fighting this disease more directly. We will be here as long as even one person needs us, but our goal will always be to see the end of Alzheimer's."

Debra R. Leib is the Executive Director, Alzheimer's Association Heart of America Chapter. She may be reached at 913.831.3888 or by e-mail at debra.leib@alz.org.