September is World Alzheimer's Month!

dementia

This month marks the second global World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge the stigma associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This year, Alzheimer’s associations across the world will focus their activities on the care required by people with dementia throughout the course of the condition.

The theme for World Alzheimer's Month 2013 is Dementia: A Journey of Caring. There are currently estimated to be more than 36 million people worldwide living with dementia. The number of people affected is set to rise to over 115 million by 2050. 

Below are some important facts about dementia:

• Dementia is a term used to describe different brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, behavior and emotion;
• Early symptoms of dementia can include memory loss, difficultly performing familiar tasks, problems with language and changes in personality;
• There is currently no cure for dementia; 
• Dementia knows no social, economic, or ethnic boundaries;
• Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and fronto-temporal dementia;
• There is one new case of dementia worldwide every four seconds;
• The worldwide costs of dementia exceeded 1% of global GDP in 2010, at $604 billion. As a result, if dementia care were a country, it would be the world’s 18th largest economy. If it were a company, it would be the world’s largest by annual revenue exceeding Wal-Mart ($414 billion) and Exxon Mobil ($311 billion).

Living with Alzheimer’s, or the other causes of dementia described above, is very difficult for the individuals affected and their loved ones. As the disease progresses, care for routine daily activities can become an around-the-clock need. That is why it's important to support World Alzheimer's Month, but equally it is even more prudent to plan ahead for a time when you or a loved one may lose mental capacity, especially if nursing home care may be required.

Do you have a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s? Persons with Alzheimer’s and their families face special legal and financial needs. At The Fairfax Alzheimer’s Planning Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C., we are dedicated to easing the financial and emotional burden on those suffering from dementia and their loved ones.  If you have a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, we can help you prepare for your future financial and long-term care needs.  We help protect the family’s hard-earned assets while maintaining your loved one’s comfort, dignity, and quality of life by ensuring eligibility for critical government benefits. Call 703-691-1888 to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation.

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