Alzheimer's disease and U.S. Population Trends are on a Collision Course

Alzheimer's Association
Friday, 13 July 2001

Alzheimer's disease and population trends are on a collision course, according to an expert at the 10th National Alzheimer's Disease Education Conference.

"The care community can no longer afford to ignore U.S. population trends if it is to provide quality care to the growing numbers of people with Alzheimer's disease," said Ramón Valle, PhD, San Diego University, San Diego, CA. "Providing dementia-capable care is no longer enough– it's time to mobilize and provide culturally competent care."

Culturally competent care is care provided to individuals and their families with recognition and understanding of their traditions, language, and culture. For example, the Alzheimer care provider should understand and be able to communicate with the person with Alzheimer's disease in their native language. They should be knowledgeable about the person's culture and personal preferences, including dress, religion and family relationships. This is particularly critical to someone with Alzheimer's disease because the disease impairs their cognitive abilities, often leaving them to rely on communicating in their originally-learned language and coping in their originally-learned traditional ways. According to Valle, the following U.S. population trends will necessitate the development of a culturally competent Alzheimer care workforce:

By 2050, the U.S. elderly minority population will grow from its present 16 percent to 25 percent of those age 65 and over.

By 2050, the life expectancy of various ethnically diverse groups, particularly Latinos (87 years) and Asian Americans (86 years) will exceed that of the whites (84 years).

By 2050, the life expectancy of the Native American will be 82 years, almost even with the white population.

Almost 50 percent of people over 85 years of age have Alzheimer's disease. Today, four million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. Unless a cure or prevention is found soon, that number will jump to 14 million by 2050.

To help head off this collision course, Valle recommends that care facilities recruit professionals, including nurses, activity directors, food service professionals and physicians, who are culturally diverse. He also suggests that care facility staff be offered the opportunity to learn a new language, research different cultures or participate in facility-sponsored cultural events. Valle also recommends that care providers interact with the family of the person with Alzheimer's disease in their care.

"Use this opportunity to find out what home life was like for the individual," said Valle. "Discovering more about their likes, traditions, habits, language, religion and favorite foods is a good place to start if you would like to provide culturally sensitive care."

Likewise, Valle recommends that the research community expand its efforts to look more closely as to how culture may contribute to a better understanding of Alzheimer's disease. For example, might the genetic isolation of some ethnically diverse groups lead to different dementia outcomes? Valle indicates that some findings hint at some underlying differences that might prove beneficial for the community.

For more information, or to contact Alzheimer's Association, see their website at: www.alz.org