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TO THE EDITOR:
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in Minnesota. According to the Alzheimer’s association of Minnesota, there are 102,000 people aged 65 and older living with Alzheimers in Minnesota. Eleven percent of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline and 166,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in Minnesota. There are 228 MILLION hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers. The value of unpaid care is $5.4 BILLION and $1.1 billion is the cost of Alzheimer’s to the state Medicaid program each year.
A.C.E. is a county wide program that comes alongside caregivers on this difficult journey. We have respite, and a caregiver support group. Reach out if you have questions or concerns or need added support as a caregiver! There is also a 2nd annual Dementia Awareness Walk Oct. 4 beginning at the Schroeder Center, registration at 9 a.m. with the walk to begin at 10 a.m. Come join us for a great cause!
Jill Toering
Program Manager,
Pipestone County
A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota