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Caring for aging loved ones is one of the most fundamentally human things we do — but it can be all-encompassing. For those caring for loved ones with dementia, the care journey can be exponentially more complex and challenging.
September marks World Alzheimer’s Month, a time to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, and other cognitive conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. As a progressive brain condition, Alzheimer’s accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases, and is the leading cause of dementia. And data suggests that over the coming decades, Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnoses will continue to climb.
This September and beyond, Wellthy is lifting up the families who are navigating Alzheimer’s and dementia care journeys.
Dementia is currently one of the top issues that members turn to Wellthy for support with — a datapoint that mirrors national trends. Currently 1 in 9 Americans are affected by dementia, and family caregivers provide more than 18 billion hours of dementia-related care annually. Dementia patients require complex navigation of comorbidities and treatments, and need a level of “always on” care that can sometimes overwhelm caregivers and put their own health at risk. Indeed, 25 percent of all dementia caregivers delay or avoid taking care of their own health needs.
At Wellthy, our Care Team has been providing Alzheimer’s and dementia care navigation support to families for nearly a decade — supporting tens of thousands of care projects for dementia caregivers.
Wellthy’s Care Experts are able to help members understand the early signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and help families navigate care of their loved ones and themselves holistically — particularly crucial for spouses caring for partners with dementia.
Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the Alzheimer’s and dementia tasks that Wellthy’s team is able to take on for families:
- Identifying neurologists and dementia specialists within your network;
- Gathering medical records, Scheduling appointments, and arranging transportation;
- Finding support groups for individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer's and other cognitive conditions;
- Helping with enrollment in Medicare, Medicaid, or private health plans that offer neurological care coverage;
- Coordinating home modifications or researching devices to help keep your loved one safe in their home;
- Locating memory care programs, activities, and resources
This kind of support can often make a meaningful difference in the lives of family caregivers.
"This service has been immensely helpful to my father and I who are full-time caretakers for my mother who has Alzheimer’s,” says Wellthy member JeRevien. “For someone who is dealing with this for the first time it's incredibly helpful to have a guide in figuring out logistics. We'd still be suffering through much of this research without the help of your wonderful team. Additionally, everyone who has helped us has been so kind and empathetic in their approach to supporting us."
And for Wellthy member Kristen, our Care Team was able to help find her mother an excellent in-home agency that provided much needed support during a stressful time.
"You helped me find an in-home caregiving agency for my mother who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. My mother lives with me so I am her primary caregiver. The caregivers were very kind and patient. My mother was smiling when I came back home from work,” Kristen says. “Wellthy eased my worries and stress by helping me move forward with a caregiving plan that works for us."
For Wellthy members navigating care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, login and create a care project to connect one-on-one with a dementia care expert who can help you navigate the complexities and challenges of care.
You can also view some helpful tips for families and caregivers of people with dementia here, and check out some helpful tips and guides for responding to and understanding common dementia behaviors here on our blog.
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