Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease as a Cause of Long-Term Care Claims
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes memory loss and cognitive decline. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults.
Alzheimer’s disease can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to function independently. As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer’s may need help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting. They may also need help with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as managing finances, cooking, and shopping.
Long-term care is a type of care that provides assistance with ADLs and IADLs. Long-term care can be provided in a variety of settings, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in-home care.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of long-term care claims. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 70% of people with Alzheimer’s disease will need long-term care at some point in their disease.
There are a number of reasons why Alzheimer’s disease is a leading cause of long-term care claims. First, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease that worsens over time. As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer’s need more and more assistance with ADLs and IADLs.
Second, Alzheimer’s disease can have a significant impact on a person’s judgment and decision-making abilities. This can make it difficult for people with Alzheimer’s to live independently and safely.
Third, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Once a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the disease will continue to progress until the person dies.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to plan for long-term care needs. There are a number of resources available to help you plan for long-term care, including government programs, private insurance, and long-term care planning professionals.
Here are some tips for planning for long-term care needs:
- Talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help you assess your long-term care needs and develop a plan to meet those needs.
- Consider long-term care insurance. Long-term care insurance can help pay for the cost of long-term care.
- Look into government programs. There are a number of government programs that can help pay for the cost of long-term care, such as Medicaid and Medicare.
- Meet with a long-term care planning professional. A long-term care planning professional can help you assess your long-term care needs, develop a plan to meet those needs, and coordinate care.
Planning for long-term care needs can be complex, but it is important to do so in order to ensure that you or your loved one has the care they need when they need it.
