• Contrary to popular belief, Alzheimer’s is not a disease of old age. Early onset disease (10% of all Alzheimer’s cases) affects people under the age of 65---some in their 40s and 50s?
• The immune systems of many caregivers are comparable to patients with advanced stage HIV?
• Over 1/3 of caregivers will die BEFORE the person they are caring for because of the physical and emotional toll they pay over years of caregiving?
• Caregiver stress and fatigue is extremely common and results in hives, high blood pressure, sleep deprivation, chronic fatigue, headaches, digestive problems and depression?
• Caregivers spend their lives on call --- 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are the secondary victims of Alzheimer’s?
• Socialization is a key factor in fighting chronic depression --- for both the Alzheimer’s patient AND the caregiver?
• There is still NO cure for this devastating and terminal illness.

The National Picture:

• As 74 million Baby Boomers come of age, it is expected that 1 in 8 will develop Alzheimer’s disease.
• The number of Americans affected by Alzheimer’s disease will increase 70% by 2030, from 4.5 million to 7.7 million.
• 986 Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease each day.
• 1 in every 10 people over 65 and nearly ½ of those over 85 have Alzheimer’s disease.
• 19 million Americans say they have a family member with the disease.
• 76% of those with Alzheimer’s disease live at home and the caregiver is a spouse, child or close family member.
• Alzheimer’s is the 5th leading cause of death for those over 65.
• Average cost of Alzheimer’s disease to the US economy each year is $100 billion.
• Annual cost of lost productivity due to work disruptions related to caregiving: $26 billion.
• Annual cost of caregiver absenteeism to businesses: $7.9 billion.
• Average lifetime caregiving cost per Alzheimer’s patient: $174.000.
• Demand for adult day care is growing at a rate of 5-15% per year, according to the National Adult Day Services Association.
• Age is the most profound predictor for this devastating, terminal disease.

Regional Statistics

• The number of South Carolinians with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia will increase by 150% in the next 15 years.
• The 65+ population in Beaufort County increased 75.9% from 1990-2000.
• Of the top 7 counties in SC with the highest growth in the 50+ population between 1990 and 2000, Beaufort County was #1 with an astonishing 82% growth---and the 65+ age group grew by 76% during the same period.
• Beaufort Country reports that the 65-85 age group will nearly double by 2025.
• Over 70,000 people in S.C. are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and at least double that many people are secondary victims ---they are the caregivers.
• The average cost of a residential care facility in the greater Hilton Head area ranges from $36,000-$60,000 per year—and only one accepts Medicaid.

AR&R Program Statistics:

• AR&R is the only dementia-specific adult daycare south of the Broad River.
• Our adult daycare program grew by 17% in 2007; 8% in 2006; 10% in 2005 and 18% in 2004.
• We provided 1,983 individual sessions (or 7,932 hours) of group respite in 2007.
• On average 10-14% of our families receive free care or reduced rates through our scholarship program.
• We served nearly 2,000 meals to our program participants in 2007.
• 225 Caregivers attended our support groups in 2007.
• Average length of participation in our daycare program is 2.5 years; and 3 years for the ongoing work done with caregivers.
• 20% of the participants in our daycare program were diagnosed between the ages of 55 and 65.