Have you ever wondered who is at risk for Alzheimer’s? You are. In fact, everyone who has a brain is at risk to develop this disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, this sixth leading cause of death is the only one of the ten leading causes that cannot be prevented, slowed or cured. This group has named June as Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Goals are to increase understanding and provide education that includes facts and realities that affect both patients and caregivers.

Many consider AD an inevitable memory-loss condition of old age. The Alzheimer’s Association defines it as “a fatal disease that kills nerve cells and tissue in the brain, affecting an individual’s ability to remember, think and plan. As the disease advances, the brain shrinks dramatically due to cell death. Individuals lose their ability to communicate, recognize family and friends, and care for themselves.”

Worldwide, at least 44 million people live with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Five million of these are in America, including approximately 150,000 in North Carolina. Almost sixty-six percent are women. It is estimated that someone develops Alzheimer’s every 67 seconds. Overall, it is the sixth leading cause of death, and fifth in those age 65 and older. One in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.

Last year, it was the cause of death for approximately a half million people in America. Almost three thousand of these were fellow North Carolinians.

Today, over fifteen million family members and friends provide care for their loved ones who struggle with this cruel disease. The majority of caregivers are women; but many husbands, sons and brothers also serve.

Recently, I listened as a knowledgeable and eloquent speaker stated that she knew of no one who wanted to be “a burden” to his or her children. Her point, of course, was that individuals should take responsibility for their own destiny; make arrangements, if you will, for growing old, getting sick and dying so your family members will not be bothered. When I hear such an assertion, the words “He’s not heavy, he’s my brother” (or father, mother, wife, husband, etc.) always come to mind. Then I feel like crying. How sad that providing care for an elderly or sick loved one is considered a burden.*

You are probably reading this column because you believe in the principles of  “honoring your parents”; “in sickness or health until death do us part”; and “doing unto others.”

There are caregivers who resent their situation and perfunctorily perform their duties. But I believe the majority considers caregiving a positive experience. We do not deny the physical, emotional and material costs; but we deem them worth the outcome.

The need for family caregivers for people with dementia will only increase in the coming years. In 2011 there were 431,000 family caregivers in North Carolina; last year this number had grown to 442,000. Let’s share our positive experiences. In doing so we can encourage future caregivers, and maybe even change a few hearts that believe caregiving is a burden to be avoided.  (Statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association.)

*I am aware of “toxic” caregiving situations in which the caregiver endures abusive behavior not related to a disease process. See “Toxic Caregiving”.