Deaths from other major diseases decrease as Alzheimer's rises. From 2000 to 2010, Alzheimer's deaths rose 68 percent, while deaths from other major causes dropped - stroke (23 percent), heart disease (16 percent), HIV (42 percent), prostate cancer (8 percent) and breast cancer (2 percent).
One in three seniors in the United States dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association's 2013 report. It's the fifth-leading cause of death for people 65 and older, and the only major disease without a prevention, treatment or cure.
About 26,000 people in Idaho have Alzheimer's or other dementias, and more than 400 die each year from these diseases.
What did the report say about Idaho caregivers? In 2012, 76,000 people provided 87 million hours of unpaid care, at an estimated value of $1.06 billion.
About 40 percent of 12,500 nursing home residents in Idaho have moderate to severe cognitive impairment.
Nearly 15 percent of caregivers live an hour or more away These caregivers had annual out-of-pocket expenses nearly twice as high as local caregivers - $9,654, as compared to $5,055.
Two free online resources to help families. www.alzheimersnavigator.org offers step-by-step guidance through surveys to help you determine what's needed. www.alzconnected.org offers message boards and a page for people to connect with others with the same issues.
Read the full report online at www.alz.org
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