Alzheimer’s Transcends Politics
Statewide effort will keep people with dementia safer
Thank you to James Monteleone for his recent story in the Journal regarding Silver Alert.
We appreciate deeply Gov. Susana Martinez prioritizing the safety of people with dementia, as exemplified in her desire to take Albuquerque’s recently enacted quick recovery system for people with dementia who wander, and expand it statewide.
The Alzheimer’s population in our state is growing rapidly. Thirty-one thousand New Mexicans with Alzheimer’s disease received unpaid care from 104,000 family members and friends in 2010.
Mirroring a national demographic shift which sees 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day, our state will face an Alzheimer’s population of 43,000 by 2025.
Ensuring the safety of these fathers and mothers, husbands and wives promises to become increasingly difficult.
Wandering, a situation in which someone with dementia leaves their home and is unable to find their way back, is disturbingly common. Among people with Alzheimer’s, six in 10 will wander during the course of their disease, and 80 percent of those who wander will repeat this behavior.
Programs like Silver Alert, which activate community resources including law enforcement and the media in order to swiftly and safely locate a wandering loved one, can be the difference between the death of a beloved spouse or their safe return.
Fortunately, our New Mexico State Legislature demonstrated last February that Alzheimer’s disease is a bipartisan issue. Rep. Danice Picraux, D-Albuquerque, concluded a long career distinguished by public health achievements with House Memorial 20, which was approved unanimously.
This memorial created a State Alzheimer’s Task Force, with a deadline of Nov. 1, 2013, to deliver a state Alzheimer’s plan to the governor.
Convened in April by Retta Ward, the secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, this task force is working diligently to present a comprehensive assessment of New Mexico’s current and ideal situations regarding dementia.
This team includes 20 different public and private organizations and stakeholder groups, ranging from the Departments of Health, Veterans Services and Indian Affairs to medical providers and family caregivers.
Some of our best minds are wrestling with problems of health care system capacity, quality of care, public awareness, research and family caregiver support.
To ensure this plan is complete, the process needs your input. If you are willing to share your experience regarding dementia, particularly systems that worked well for you or targets for improvement, I encourage you to contact us here at the Alzheimer’s Association, New Mexico Chapter. Our Albuquerque phone number is 505-266-4473, or email our Communication and Advocacy Director Myles Copeland and mcopeland@alz.org.
The scope of the Alzheimer’s epidemic demands this level of attention. Caregivers in our nation provide $210 billion annually in unpaid care, a figure equal to more than 20 percent of the combined yearly expenditures for Medicaid and Medicare. Were this cost to fall directly on our government systems, the effect would be crushing.
In this way, family caregivers perform a service for our nation. They deserve our support.
If your family is facing dementia, I implore you to engage with the Alzheimer’s Association. Free to the public, the Savvy Caregiver program is a sevenweek, evidence-based class that helps families understand the disease process and its behavioral impacts, and imparts practical techniques for behavioral intervention.
This investment of time raises the quality of care and life for people with the disease, while reducing stress on loved ones subject to the chronic emotional distress inherent in caregiving. It is offered continuously through the Association’s regional offices in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Farmington, Santa Fe and Roswell, along with respite reimbursement, support groups and free individual care consultations.
You can also reach the Alzheimer’s Associat ion 24/7 Hotline any time, at 1-800-272-3900.