Invest in caregivers

On March 20, the Alzheimer’s Association released its 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, which was covered in the Democrat-Gazette by Doug Thompson. This report provides an in-depth look at the latest statistics on Alzheimer’s disease prevalence, mortality, dementia-care workforce, costs of care, and impact on caregivers across the country and in Arkansas.

The report found that 72 percent of dementia caregivers in Arkansas report higher rates of chronic conditions, 38 percent report suffering from depression, 25 percent report frequent poor physical health, and 38 percent report high to very high physical stress due to caregiving. These findings illustrate how many caregivers are forced to neglect their own personal health care due to caregiving obligations.

The new Facts and Figures report sheds light on the continued pressures, challenges, and burdens many Arkansas families are going through as a result of dementia. The association reports that 155,000 family caregivers provided over 270 million hours of unpaid care at a value of nearly $4.5 billion.

Despite recent investments, Arkansas continues to lag behind other states such as Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, and Kansas, which are proactively investing in respite services for dementia caregivers. Current funding levels in Arkansas simply do not meet the demands and desperate need that exists for the state’s most vulnerable caregivers, especially in our rural communities. As state lawmakers return to the Capitol next month, we urge them to make continued investments to expand access to respite and care and support services that empower families to care for their loved ones in appropriate care settings.

KIRSTEN DICKINS Little Rock

Kirsten Dickins is executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, Arkansas Chapter.