Americans fear developing Alzheimer's disease more than any other major life-threatening disease, including cancer, stroke, heart disease and diabetes, according to a poll from Home Instead Senior Care.
"The survey confirmed what our franchise owners had been hearing from their clients and their families—the majority of Americans feel unprepared to care for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's," says Jeff Huber, president and chief operating officer of Home Instead Inc. "The need for support and education for these families is critical."
The majority of Americans (44 percent) are more scared about developing Alzheimer's than cancer (33 percent). And it's not just about having the disease themselves. When asked if it would be harder to receive an Alzheimer's diagnosis or care for someone with the disease, Americans remain split equally down the middle.
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Nearly two-thirds of Americans (63 percent) have had a personal experience with someone with Alzheimer's and/or a serious memory loss problem. Most (61 percent) feel unprepared to care for a loved one diagnosed with the disease. If diagnosed with the disease, Americans most fear the inability to care for oneself and burdening others (68 percent); followed by losing memory of life and loved ones (32 percent).
More than other generations, a majority of Americans over 65 years of age (56 percent) fear an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
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