At least 26,000 Granite Staters 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new report published by the Alzheimer’s Association, but the worst is yet to come.
The “Facts and Figures” report, an in-depth look at newly released national statistics on the disease’s prevalence in the U.S., provides a look at disease prevalence, incidence, mortality, costs of care and impact on caregivers.
The report notes that the number of Granite Staters with Alzheimer’s is expected to grow by over 23 percent, to 32,000, by 2025. And currently there are more than 58,000 residents in the state serving as unpaid family caregivers providing an estimated total of 83 million hours of care.
In 2019, there were 511 statewide deaths from Alzheimer’s disease. This year’s report also includes a section on the state’s dementia care workforce:
• There are approximately 33 geriatricians currently practicing in New Hampshire.
• By 2050, 72 geriatricians will be needed to serve 10 percent of the population 65 and older, and 217 geriatricians will be needed to serve 30 percent of the 65-and-older population in New Hampshire.
The report also looks at the number of direct care workers, such as nurse aides and nursing assistants, home health aides and personal care aides.
• In 2018, there were approximately 9,560 home health and personal care aides in New Hampshire.
• By 2028, New Hampshire will need 12,600 home health and personal care aides — a 31.8 percent increase.
The report also notes that Covid-19 has had a significant effect on mortality from Alzheimer’s and other dementias. According to the report, there were 44,729 more deaths nationally from Alzheimer’s and other dementias in 2020 compared with averages during the previous five years — a 17 percent increase. In New Hampshire, there were 263 more deaths from Alzheimer’s and dementia in 2020 than compared to averages over the past five years, an 18.8 percent increase.
The report, said Jim Wessler, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter, “clearly outlines the burden that many families here in New Hampshire are going through.” — JEFF FEINGOLD
