The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck
Imagine a world where nobody is familiar. Your home doesn’t seem to suit you. Your friends and family change daily. You cannot fix your own food, take care of personal hygiene, balance a checkbook, or read a book. You frequently get lost and wake up in the middle of the night wondering why nobody else is up. You watch television without following the storyline. You hear the phone ring, but can’t seem to find the right button to answer it. You forget how to laugh and cry, becoming seemingly emotionless. You have no interests or hobbies. Worst of all, you can’t seem to get words out any longer. All of this happens in steps (slow progressive steps for some) until you essentially lose your identity.
This is only a smidgen of the world an Alzheimer’s victim lives. Unfortunately, more than five million people in the United States live in this world. It typically opens its arms to the elderly, aged 65 or older. However, it sometimes lets in those younger. About 5% of those living in this world are in their 40s or 50s. Here, death is just waiting around the corner. But sometimes it lingers tortuously for years.
On November 1, 2014, President Barack Obama declared November National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. During this month, efforts increase to teach the public about Alzheimer’s, to support caregivers and patients, and to honor those who have passed from the disease. These efforts are greatly needed as every 67 seconds a person develops the disease, with approximately half a million people dying each year from Alzheimer’s. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and continues to increase annually—at a rapid rate. By 2050, the incidence of Alzheimer’s may nearly triple.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in the United States, costing the country $214 billion. This number could increase to $1.2 trillion by 2050! These numbers do not take into account the countless, unpaid hours that caregivers provide, which were valued at $220.2 billion in 2013.
As you can see, this disease is an extremely emotional, senseless, and expensive one. A desperate need exists to help with research and development to find solutions that will prevent, stall, or reverse the disease. To learn more about this devastating condition and how you can support those affected, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org.
Jill Starbuck has 20 years of experience as a business writer, editor, and market research analyst. She is a certified health coach through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America. She is also the co-owner of a running business. She can be reached at jillstarbuck@hotmail.com.
