Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease that is most commonly linked with progressive memory loss and numerous other mental issues. However, Alzheimer's also has a significant impact on the patient's family. The struggle of having beloved family member that can no longer remember any of their friends and family is an issue that is not nearly address as it should be.
The relatives of those affected by Alzheimer's may experience grief and depression at the gradual loss of a person they once knew. Beyond the mental impacts of having a family member with Alzheimer's, treatment for Alzheimer's is expensive, and care for the affected is even more costly.
The cost of an assisted living facility (ALF) can reach up to nearly $73,000 per year, which can be impossible for poorer families to pay. All of these reasons are important for why Alzheimer's awareness is important in the modern day, as well as understanding the disease and why it happens to certain people.