Sudbury Working Toward Dementia-Friendly Community?

SUDBURY, MA — According to the Alzheimer's Association, an estimated 5.3 Americans suffered from the disease in 2015.

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BayPath Elder Services has started to work with three local communities to begin working toward becoming a "dementia-friendly community." On Thursday, March 31, at 1 p.m., BayPath joins Elder Law Attorney Arthur Bergeron to talk about making Sudbury a dementia-friendly community, too.

Presenting "Dementia-Friendly Communities: What Are They and Why Are They Important" at the Senior Center, Attorney Bergeron talks about a community "where you and your loved ones can live out your lives with dignity, even if one of you becomes memory impaired."

Attorney Bergeron also discusses the Frail Elder Waiver (FEW) and other government programs that could help you and your loved ones manage long term care.

Calling the Sudbury Senior Center to sign up at 978-443-3055. Space may be limited.

Facts and figures from the Alzheimer's Association, based on the latest data from 2015:

An estimated 5.3 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer's disease in 2015.

• Of the 5.3 million Americans with Alzheimer's, an estimated 5.1 million people are age 65 and older, and approximately 200,000 individuals are under age 65 (younger-onset Alzheimer's).
• Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's are women. Of the 5.1 million people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's in the United States, 3.2 million are women and 1.9 million are men.
• Although there are more non-Hispanic whites living with Alzheimer's and other dementias than people of any other racial or ethnic group in the United States, older African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely than older whites to have Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

The number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias will grow each year as the size and proportion of the U.S. population age 65 and older continue to increase. By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million — a 40 percent increase from the 5.1 million age 65 and older affected in 2015. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease may nearly triple, from 5.1 million to a projected 13.8 million, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the disease.