KNOXVILLE (WATE) – Alzheimer’s can be a devastating disease not just to those suffering from it, but also caregivers who end up sacrificing their own basic necessities such as food, transportation and medical care in order to care for their loved ones.

A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association says care contributors are 28 percent more likely to eat less or go hungry while contributing top the care of someone with Alzheimer’s, and one fifth sacrificed their own medical care by cutting back on doctor visited.More online: Read the full report [PDF]

An estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, including 110,000 in Tennessee, and nearly 16 million family members and friends are providing financial, physical and financial support. Thirteen percent of care contributors sold personal belongings, such as a car, to help pay for costs related to dementia, while nearly half tapped into savings or retirement funds.

To help care contributors financially plan for the future, the Alzheimer’s Association suggests the following:

  • Look at retirement planning as a time to think about how to prepare for the need for long-term medical care. After an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, your options may be more limited.
  • Conduct an inventory of your financial resources (for example, savings, insurance, retirement benefits, government assistance, VA benefits, etc.). A financial planner or elder care attorney can help with this.
  • Investigate long-term care services (for example, home care, assisted living residences and nursing homes) in your area. Ask what types of insurance they accept and if they accept Medicaid as few individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias have sufficient long-term care insurance or can afford to pay out-of-pocket for long-term care services for as long as they are needed.
  • Call the local Agency on Aging to determine what community services and support programs are available (for example, respite care, homemaker services and Meals on Wheels can help alleviate financial burdens).
  • Once you understand what you have for financial resources and what you can afford, make a plan with your family or a close friend for how to access care.

More online:Alzheimer’s Association

Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 helpline: 1.800.272.3900