More on Alzheimer's

The late Ronald Reagan became the public face of Alzheimer's disease, but the private face is all around us: our families, friends, acquaintances. We are all aware of this debilitating disease. Doctors say Alzheimer's disease affects half the people who reach the age of 85.

That means if you and your spouse, or partner, or sibling, or best friend live to mid-eighties, chances are one of you will have Alzheimer's disease, and the other will be dealing with it.

The medical advancements of the last fifty years and the resulting increased lifespan means we are facing an unprecedented epidemic. A study published in the May 11, 2004 issue of the journal Neurology projects a 44% rise in the number of Alzheimer's cases by 2025, and states that by 2030 there could be 7.7 million people afflicted with the disease. The Alzheimer's Association's most recent report (March 2007) states there are currently more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, which is a 10% increase since their last estimate five years ago.

When our loved ones have Alzheimer's disease or related disorders it is devastating. Whether the persons with Alzheimer's disease stay at home, attend day care, or are in assisted living or a nursing home, the support necessary to ensure their safety and quality of life is unprecedented. This most vulnerable segment of our population is totally dependent upon those who look after them.

Experts agree there is a specific body of knowledge required to provide appropriate care for the person with Alzheimer's and related disorders. Interviews with Alzheimer's caregivers indicate there are distinct differences between working with the frail and elderly and the person with Alzheimer's disease. For instance, activities such as bathing and dressing are not the same because people with Alzheimer's often forget how to perform their personal hygiene; while the frail patient just can't physically manage. Of course, communicating with the person who has dementia is a great challenge.

Alzheimer's is a frightening disease for both the patients and their families. It requires very specific understanding and knowledge to effectively provide for the needs of the person with dementia. The caretaker who accepts this job is the one who has the most direct effect on the quality of life remaining for our loved ones. Thus it is important that those who are engaged in caring for this group of people be documented with certification and testing to ensure the unique requirements are met. The job of caring for those with Alzheimer's disease must be professionalized.

In order to meet the need for standardized, recognized skill sets reflective of the specialized work, the National Certification Board for Alzheimer's Care (NCBAC) was formed by Meaningful Measurement. NCBAC is an organization whose mission is to promote the public good by providing credentialing and registry services for those who care for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.