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Seniors with Alzheimers and Dementia - Resources for Family Members and Loved One In today's article, Dr. Tom explores 4 resources for seniors who may be experiencing Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease.

A rising prevalence of dementia is sweeping the globe. In an article from The Economist, The Rising Prevalence of Dementia is a Global Emergency, researchers have found that “1.7% of 65- to 69-year-olds have dementia and the risk of developing it doubles every five years after that.” While the news is bleak, its cause is something of a modern-day miracle that owes its existence to the nearly…

What does Alzheimer's care cost you? The dollars-and-cents answer alone is rough, and that's before you consider the emotional and psychological tolls, the career/lifestyle impact, the lost wages, and all the other losses this tough disease exacts. (But you already know that...)

Now comes a Caring.com survey of dementia caregivers showing that one third of respondents spent more than $30,000 in the past 12 months on the care of someone with Alzheimer's. Almost 1,000 family caregivers were included in the survey.

I wrote the survey summary as well as this piece on how to save on dementia care. Alas, you won't find coupon-style savings. It's more a matter of approach: ways to think about the situation, what to ask, what not to overlook, and creative thinking, In other words, not easy stuff.

But you already knew that, too. 

-- Paula Spencer Scott, author of SURVIVING ALZHEIMER'S: Practical Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers 

Most people say that they want to live out their lives at home. And family caregivers to people with dementia typically prefer to keep a loved one home as long as they can. Sometimes, however, circumstances conspire to make an out-of-home placement a good or best option: incontinence, sleep disturbances, aggression, or an ill (or ill-equipped) caregiver, to name a few.

In those cases, "memory care" or "Alzheimer's care" can be a good option. Unfortunately, it's also the most expensive type of community-type care, because it requires skilled staff, added security and other measures, and can last a long time.