September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma. According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, every 4 seconds there is a new case of dementia somewhere in the world. 44 million people worldwide are living with the disease. The number of people with dementia is expected to triple to 135 million people by the year 2050. Improving health may help reduce the impact of dementia over time by reducing the number of people living with the disease. In addition, it will reduce the cost to our healthcare systems, and dementia-related complications.
The burden of dementia is staggering. The estimated global societal economic cost of dementia is more than $600 billion and rising. The Alzheimer’s Association noted that 15.5 million caregivers provided an estimated 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care valued at more than $220 billion in 2013.
Taking care of an aging parent or loved one can affect one’s performance in the workplace. At Wellness on Wheels, we assist companies with promoting healthier lifestyles and work environments. Our corporate wellness programs include stress management and “Lunch and Learn” educational modules such as “Caring for Your Aging Parents and Loved Ones.” In addition, we offer a Community Resources Directory. This provides exclusive discounts on a variety of services for employees and their families.
As published in Wellness on Wheels Newsletter — September, 2014