By Jim Herlihy
An estimated 3.3% of the U.S. population – over 11 million people – is currently serving as volunteer, unpaid caregivers for their 6.5 million loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease.
This veritable army of spouses, children, siblings, grandchildren, friends and neighbors is giving its time – and often its own money – to care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s, the last major disease without a prevention or cure.
November is a special month to honor this unique, dedicated group of people. Originally designated as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, the event later was expanded by President Bill Clinton to honor our nation’s caregivers: National Family Caregivers Month.
“Providing one-on-one care for a loved one is a very personal experience,” said Meg Donahue, Community Engagement director for the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado. “For some, it’s a way to show their love for a family member or friend. For others, it may be a way to give back and show their appreciation.”
The reality is that these volunteer caregivers are generally inexperienced in the tasks facing them. Half (51%) report having no prior experience performing medical/nursing-related tasks. But, despite the physical, emotional and financial strain, 45% of caregivers surveyed by the Alzheimer’s Association reported the experience was “very rewarding.”
The statistics surrounding Alzheimer’s caregiving are as startling as the disease itself. The seventh-leading cause of death in the United States and the only leading disease without a prevention or cure, Alzheimer’s poses a massive healthcare challenge that could not be met without the selfless acts of volunteer caregivers. Here’s a statistical look at the disease and the caregivers:
Alzheimer’s caregivers across the U.S.: over 11 million in 2022.
Duration of care: more than half (57%) of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias have provided care for 4 or more years. Some provide care for up to 20 years.
Number of hours: In 2021, volunteer caregivers in the U.S. provided an estimated 16 billion hours of unpaid care. An average of 27.1 hours of care per caregiver per week.
Value of care: The unpaid Alzheimer’s care provided in 2021 (at a value of $16.98/hour) was valued at $271.6 billion. That is more than 14 times the total revenue of McDonald’s in 2020 ($19.2 billion).
Out-of-pocket costs: The contributions made by volunteer caregivers go beyond their time. On average, in 2021 dementia caregivers reported spending $12,388 each for medical, personal care and household expenses for the person with dementia.
Personal toll: A Stanford University study reported that caregivers have a 63% higher mortality rate than non-caregivers, and 40% of Alzheimer’s caregivers die from stress-related disorders before the person for whom they are caring.
Double responsibilities: One in four caregivers report they are “sandwich generation” caregivers, meaning they care for children under age 18 as well as an aging parent.
There are more than 76,000 Coloradans living with Alzheimer’s disease. Supporting them are more than 159,000 volunteer caregivers.
The Alzheimer’s Association offers a wide range of educational programs and services – all at no charge – for caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer’s disease. To learn more, go to www.alz.org or call the Association’s free 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.
Jim Herlihy is Senior Marketing & Communications Director with the Alzheimer’s Association
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