The risk is real:
1 in 13 Canadians over age 65 is affected by Alzheimer's.
Approximately 10% of patients with Alzheimer's or related dementias are under the age of 65.
There are currently 364,000 Canadians with Alzheimer's or a related dementia.
Each year 83,200 new cases of Alzheimer's are diagnosed.
Experts predict that 750,000 Canadians will have Alzheimer's disease or related dementia by 2031.
The majority of people with Alzheimer's are cared for by unpaid family members, relatives or friends, but …
The cost to informal caregivers is great:
One-third of informal caregivers report disruptions to their job, such as leaving early, using sick days or taking time off, in order to provide care.
Caring for someone with Alzheimer's or a related dementia increases the risk of developing chronic health problems.
29% of caregivers reported that their sleep patterns had changed and 21% said their health had been affected by their responsibilities.
44% of caregivers reported that they incurred extra expenses because of their responsibilities.
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