A recent study by John Hopkins Medicine reports, rather unsurprisingly, that 99 percent of people living with dementia and 97 percent of caregivers have unmet needs (varying from medical needs and safety, to emotional needs and resources).
Another finding in this study is that 60 percent of dementia patients were left without medical care for health conditions either related or unrelated to their dementia. This is rather notable, as patients with dementia are at an increased risk for other serious illnesses which may require hospitalization.
One disheartening part of the study also revealed that over half of the surveyed dementia patients felt they were not provided with adequate meaningful daily activities at their senior center or at home, and were still without a proper dementia evaluation or diagnosis.
The stress on caregivers and their own unmet needs also correlated with higher nursing home admissions for people with dementia. Many caregivers lack access to resources and support services, as well as education on how best to care for a loved one.
In both caregivers and dementia patients, it was found that those suffering from depression or its symptoms had significantly higher levels of unmet needs.
Read more: The Unmet Needs of Dementia Patients and Caregivers
At Memorable Pets, we are highly dedicated to raising funds for Alzheimer's awareness and research, which is why a portion of the proceeds from each Memorable Pet goes toward Alzheimer's care. You can learn more about our selection of pets and how you can help at our website: memorablepets.com