National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in 1983. At the time, fewer than 2 million Americans had Alzheimer’s; today, the number of people with the disease has soared to nearly 5.4 million.  Get involved this month, and help raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.

The Facts on Alzheimer’s Disease

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2012, 1 in 8 adults over the age of 65 will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.  Another American develops the disease every 68 seconds, and it is estimated that by 2050, up to 16 million will have the Alzheimer’s.

The estimated costs of caring for this population in 2012 will total more than $200 billion.  In addition, more than 15 million family and friends will provide at least 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $210.5 billion.  Clearly, Alzheimer’s disease is not only an emotional stressor for caregivers and families, but a financial one as well.

How Can Assistive Technology Help?

The primary goal for integrating assistive technology into an Alzheimer’s care plan is to offer support to the family members offering care.   Products and services available in the market today can address issues such as wandering, safety, and medication compliance.

At SimplyHome, we work with families and caregivers to develop customized systems of care.  Products range from GPS watches to medication dispensers to our wireless SimplyHome System.  Along with equipment, our services also include:

• Offering environmental controls to develop independence with home living skills

• Customizing wireless sensor systems that alert individuals, families or service providers to changes in routines

• Providing a website that tracks trends in activities of daily living to support skill development, care management and service planning

• Helping families access other products that address specific safety concerns such as wandering

Assistive technology can be another tool for those who are providing care and monitoring safety.  It can also track changes in physical and behavioral status so that families and health providers can address issues prior to a crisis.  Assistive technology cannot replace the love and support families and caregivers offer.  What it can provide, however, is an affordable solution to concerns that families may have for their loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease. Visit our website at www.simply-home.com for more information.