Podcast: Alzheimer’s disease, a story of two families

I have some statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association that may startle you:

• More than 6 million Americans of all ages are living with Alzheimer’s disease. That number is growing, and growing fast.
• One in nine people age 65 and older (11.3%) has Alzheimer’s dementia.
• Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
• 1.2 million Americans age 65 and older are projected to have Alzheimer’s dementia by 2050.

It’s likely that each one of us knows someone who has Alzheimer’s or is caring for someone with the disease. No matter how you look at it, it’s a devastating disease that takes its toll on everyone. In this episode of the Catching Health podcast, I talk with Danielle Bernier, whose mother has Alzheimer’s, and Tom O’Connor, who cared for his wife Deb until she passed away. Their experiences are both different and similar, but one important common thread is that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is challenging. No matter how much you love someone with Alzheimer’s, providing care is not easy — on many levels.

In our conversation, Danielle and Tom talk about the ups and downs of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s and how they are trying to do to promote awareness and understanding, as well as help raise money for research and much-needed services.

Listen to the podcast

Where else you can find and subscribe to the Catching Health podcast

• Apple Podcasts
• Stitcher
• Spotify
• iHeartRadio
• RadioPublic
• Amazon
• Check your favorite listening app. (Search for Catching Health with Diane Atwood)

Read the transcript

• Transcript of my conversation about Alzheimer’s with Tom O’Connor and Danielle Bernier

Resources

• Alzheimer’s Association
• Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter
• Walk to End Alzheimer’s
• Maine Agencies on Aging
• Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet

Family photos