Currently, over 6 million individuals in the US are living with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), and that number could potentially skyrocket to 75 million within the next decade. 

AD is a progressive brain disease that appears in two types, either early onset in people 60 or younger or late onset in people 65 or older. In both types, executive brain functions such as memory, language, decision-making, and judgment are severely diminished, leading to the necessity of a caregiver. Over 80% of caregivers for those living with AD are informal caregivers, such as family members or friends, who are rarely, if ever, prepared for the mental, physical, and emotional challenges brought on by caregiving.

In this episode, Dr. Caryn breaks down alarming statistics surrounding informal caregivers for AD patients while focusing on solutions nursing can offer to alleviate caregiver burden.   

In this episode, you’ll also hear:

• Identifying informal caregivers

• Understanding dementia and caregiver burden 

• Benefits of nursing and respite services 

Must-listen moments: 

[00:05:44] Alzheimer's dementia is one of the costliest societal conditions at a quarter of a trillion dollars annually to the healthcare system.

[00:07:58] Caregiver burden is a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional concept that's based on the perception of strain related to the care that the caregiver provides. 

[00:12:05] Rest, or temporary delay, respite for the caregiver of Alzheimer's dementia care recipients can reduce stress symptoms of depression and increase resilience.

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