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The Need for Dementia-Friendly Training

Caregiver offering dementia-friendly care to an elderly woman
Image Copyright iStock

Why is dementia-friendly training so important? Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease is the sixth leading cause of death nationally and the fourth leading cause of death among those 65 and older in North Carolina. Also, dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are the only leading cause of death for which there are no effective treatments or cures.

With adults over 75 the fastest growing segment of the population, and with Alzheimer’s and related dementias affecting one in three adults over 85, dementia-friendly training is critical. In North Carolina, approximately 180,000 people live with dementia. According to current estimates, this number will grow to 260,000 by 2037. Without a doubt, patients with dementia pose a variety of challenges for hospitals, communities, and families, including:

  • prolonged stays
  • poorer health outcomes
  • higher costs
  • increased readmissions
  • increased mortality rates