NLC-NYC Gotham Talks: Crystal Hudson

Before We Forget: Four Ways to Lessen the Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease

Crystal Hudson, NLC New York City
2015 Fellow and Executive Board Member

Description: Alzheimer’s Disease has a harrowing effect on our families, communities and economy — particularly in New York. Learn how you can provide support and solutions to those living with the disease, their families, and their caregivers.

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“Did You Know”:

• The bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act was recently signed into law, which will address the needs of caregivers through a coordinated national strategy.
• There are currently 390,000 New Yorkers with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
• In 2025, approximately 460,000 New Yorkers aged 65 and older will suffer from this disease — an 18% increase.
• Alzheimer’s costs Medicaid more than $4.5 billion each year in New York alone — the highest cost of any state.
• There are 1 million Alzheimer’s and dementia unpaid caregivers in the state.
• In 2016, they provided 1.2 billion hours of care, valued at $14.7 billion.
• Unpaid caregivers in 2016 themselves had $848 million in higher health care costs than non-caregivers.
• 2,639 people died just from Alzheimer’s in 2014. Nearly 1/3 of seniors who die each year have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia.
• 1 in 9 people aged 45 and older experience Subjective Cognitive Decline, of those, less than half have spoken to their physician about it.

Gotham Gazette and New Leaders Council — a nonpartisan, nonprofit leadership institute — have partnered to publish a series of video commentaries from New York City civic activists. GothamTalks are short video essays submitted through the New Leaders Council alumni network, which consists of hundreds of New Yorkers working in advocacy, government, campaigns, nonprofits, business, law, and other aspects of city life.

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