Main Effects of Alzheimer for Elderly People in the United States of America - Report Example

Main Effects of Alzheimer for Elderly People in the United s of America al Affiliation) The report discusses the main effects of Alzheimer’s disease for the elderly people in the USA. The disease is the most common form of dementia. The introduction of the report contains background information about the disease. The methodology comprises of the findings of the report and their interpretation. The discussion gives detailed effects that the disease causes to the nation. The conclusion gives the recommendations and additional information about the management of the disease. Introduction The problem of the research relates to the people affected by the disease and at what age. The effects the disease creates on the affected individuals, the economy, and the government. In recent years, over 5 million Americans were suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. After attaining the age of 60, most people started to show symptoms of the disease. This could mean that the risk of being infected increases with age. Younger individuals could also get the disease, but on rare occasions. It is important for people to determine their risk factors, in order to prevent themselves from acquiring the disease. This is because other researchers project that the number of infections could rise significantly in the future (Wimo & prince, 2010). Thesis statement The paper shows that age is the main risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. The prevalence of the disease is analyzed and its fatality rate. The disease affects the caregivers psychologically. It is costly for the government to provide medication and treatment services to the infected person. The disease infects a large number of older women as compared to men. The paper discusses the physical effects of the disease in the elderly. Background information Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain in a progressive manner. It could be fatal for the cells of the brain. It interferes with the memory capacity of the brain and affects the normal thinking of a person. If the affected person manages the disease, they could control it. The disease has no cure, but its symptoms are curable. The use of questionnaires was one of the methods of data collection. They provided information on the physical and mental health of the respondent. Another method of collection of data was the use of bio measures (Katzman, 2000). They provided the relationship between age and the different stages of the disease. Methods Questionnaires This research methodology provided both qualitative and quantitative data. Older people from the age of 60 and their carers filled out a questionnaire on the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. It was determined that the response from both parties would reflect actual evidence from their perspective. Published research literature and other reports complemented the factual aspect of the gathered evidence. The materials provided information about the symptoms, effects, and recommendations to patients. The recommendation informed the patients on proper management of the disease. Out of the sent 2000 questionnaires, 1500 people managed to fill out their responses. They suggested that the main effect of the disease for older people was memory loss, physical instability, and death. Eighty percent of the respondents represented the elderly people, while eighteen percent represented their carers’ view. Two percent of the respondents did not fill out the questionnaire as expected. The greatest percentage of the infected individuals was that of women. Bio measures and interviews This new methodology gives appropriate information about the way life and health connects to the age factor. Multimodal study examines the interaction of Alzheimer’s disease with an increase in an individual’s age. Field staff was hired that aided in the collection of bio measures. They completed one thousand personal interviews for people between the age of fifty-five and ninety-five. The respondents acted as a representative sample of adults that either had shown the symptoms of the disease or were already suffering from it. The interviews conducted limited the respondents to the use of the English language. The bio measures determined the progressive change in the effects of the disease with age. Most of the affected individuals proved that the symptoms developed into serious conditions as time passed by. For instance, if the level of memory loss was at a lower rate when the individual was younger, the situation changed with time. The memory loss, increased at higher rates with aging and the individuals could take time to recall close relatives. Data in relation to the cost incurred by the government in caring for the patients was available in the library. The researchers accessed the data for comparison purposes on the costs incurred by patients who suffer from other diseases (Shriver, Skelton, Fethering, & Hickey, 2011). Results The graph above shows the general relationship of the Alzheimer’s disease with the age factor. The pervasiveness of the disease increases with age, as shown. This means that is has severe effects in infected people as they become older. Most of the affected people are above the age of sixty-five. The disease affects more women than men. Its effects could lead to more deaths in the future. This is because it is among the largest killer diseases in the USA. Caregivers suffer psychological effects due to the burden imposed when taking care of the sick (Mace, & Rabins, 2007). The condition is the most costly for the government of the USA. Almost one dollar in every five spent on medical care goes to patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Discussion Mortality More than half a million people over the age of sixty-five lose their lives due to Alzheimer’s disease. It is the sixth largest killer disease in the United States of America. It is so dangerous than a combination of two cancer types. In recent years, the disease has shown an increase in the number of deaths it has caused. This is in comparison to other diseases where the number of deaths they caused decreased. The disease is neither curable nor preventable, but can be managed through the care of support givers. Focus on women Women are the most vulnerable when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease infections. They are at a high risk, such that one in every six elderly women has the disease. This could be due to estrogen hormones that the women possess. Most of the caregivers in hospitals and health centers are women. This makes them more vulnerable to psychological effects associated with the disease. Effects on caregivers Relatives volunteer to care of individuals within the family who suffer from the disease. The relatives abandon their jobs and businesses to provide care and support to their patients. This creates negative effects to the economy because the country loses a lot of Gross Domestic Product. The care providers experience adverse psychological effects, as they have to sacrifice their finances and time to support their own patients. They acquire emotional stress and some of them report cases of depression (Davenhill, 2007) Prevalence About five million American citizens have the Alzheimer’s disease. A huge part of the number is comprised of the elderly people above the age of sixty-five. Researchers have projected that the number of new infections would rise in the future. This is because medical lab technicians have not been able to determine a particular cure or vaccine for the disease. If not, well managed, the number of individuals with the disease would rise significantly. Governmental support The management of the disease by the government is the most costly condition. The USA government could use over two hundred million dollars to fund patients, mostly elderly, with the disease. A fifth of the total budget of the country goes into the diseases’ kitty. This becomes a burden to the taxpayer as most of the taxes they pay for management of the disease. The government could use such amounts for other development projects in the country. Family members of the patient have to incur high insurance costs, as the premiums paid are high. Physical effects The patients who suffer from the disease show signs of memory loss. They get difficulties whenever required to recall particular information. They also find difficulties in the performance of familiar tasks. They perform such tasks in their everyday life, but do not perform the tasks in a similar manner. The elderly persons who suffer from the disease could show some form of disorientation due to an increase in poor judgmental ability. Some of the patients may show changes in personality due to a constant behavioral change. They experience some loss in the initiative, where they remain in a particular position until someone else moves them. Conclusion and Recommendations Age and genetic factors are the main causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Management of the risk factors of the disease could start from individuals getting knowledge about the disease. The disease does not have cure, but it is manageable. People should be aware of the effects of the disease through. Informative campaigns should help in ensuring that there is the creation of awareness about the disease. There are individuals who are at a higher risk of acquiring the disease. Such individuals, especially people who are over sixty-five years of age, should ensure that they undergo regular checkups. Such scrutiny would ensure that there is early detection of the symptoms of the disease for quick treatment. There is psychological torture experienced by the caregivers. Non-governmental organizations need to hold regular seminars and workshops to encourage the caregivers (Bellenir, 2008). The government incurs many expenses in ensuring that the elderly individuals who suffer from the disease receive support. It needs to conduct a study on the various ways it could formulate the budget. This is because the budget needs to accommodate all sectors of the economy and provide support to every needy citizen. The disease is more prevalent among women than in men. Women should be able to determine their risk factors. They need to find ways and means to reduce their risk levels. The disease causes several effects to the elderly persons. The health facilities should develop programs that aid the patients’ recovery from the disease. Caregivers should have good remuneration in order to encourage them to perform their duties. References Alzheimer disease: a handbook for Alberta caregivers. (1993). Calgary: Alzheimer Association of Alberta. Bellenir, K. (2008). Alzheimer disease sourcebook: basic consumer health information about Alzheimer disease, other dementias, and related disorders ... (4th ed.). Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics. Davenhill, R. (2007). Looking into later life a psychoanalytic approach to depression and dementia in old age. London: Karnac. Katzman, R. (2000). Alzheimer disease the changing view. San Diego: Academic Press. Mace, N. L., Rabins, P. V.. (2006). The 36-hour day: a family guide to caring for people with Alzheimer disease, other dementias, and memory loss in later life (4th ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Shriver, M., Skelton, K., Fetherling, D., & Hickey, M. (2011). Alzheimers in America: the Shriver report on women and Alzheimers : a study. New York: Free Press. Wimo, A., & Prince, M. (2010). World alzheimer report 2010 the global economic impact of dementia. London, UK: Alzheimers Disease International. Appendices Lahiri, D. (2004). Preface: Developments in Understanding of Alzheimer Disease. Current Alzheimer Research, 1(4), ii-ii. Read More