Now, there's evidence that our fear is not unfounded. We boomers are actually now regarded as "Generation Alzheimers." One out of every eight of us will die with or from the disease. And unlike other common boomer diseases like diabetes, arthritis, and heart conditions, there's really nothing we can do about it. There's no cure; in fact, there's not even a known way to signficantly slow the progression of the disease.
Recently, the Alzheimer's Association released the results of a study called Generation Alzheimers: the Defining Disease of the Baby Boomers. It's quite scary.
According to the findings $172 billion is spent annually on and by the 5.2 million people with Alzheimers! Predictions are that Alzheimer's will cost $20 trillion over the next 40 years. Wow! Moreover, It's the 6th leading cause of death.
RISK FACTORS:
http://alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp
Baby Boomers and Alzheimer's Disease - 1 in 8 will get it
New Social Security Disability Benefits for those with Early Alzheimer's Disease
According to the Administration, approximately 200,000 people under the age of 65 currently suffer from the symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is one of 38 degenerative conditions recently included in the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances program. This decision to add early-onset Alzheimer's to the Compassionate Allowances Initiative list is a major step forward for individuals with Alzheimer’s and their families. Disability determinations for Social Security Disability programs can now be decided within weeks rather than months or years
This system is designed to move quickly, aiding patients and their families, as they move from diagnosis to benefits. Expediting this process aids in reducing stress associated with waiting for the lengthy approval process, and trying to plan the next stages of life while in a state of limbo. With this new program, it is estimated that tens of thousands of younger Alzheimer’s sufferers will now qualify in a matter of days rather than the traditional months or years it often took in the past.
The Social Security Administration’s proactive efforts to “fast track” certain conditions will help to reduce the backlog of disability claims and, more importantly, ensure those claims that fall under this initiative will be decided within days instead of months or years.
According the the Administration, many of these younger patients–most in their 30s and 40s–are still working and have more extensive financial responsibilities than the traditional Alzheimer’s patient.
Effective March 1, 2010, the Administration will be able to electronically target and make prompt decisions in the best interest of the disabled patients.
For more information about this new Social Security Benefit please click here
Checklist for Applying for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security
To be taken to the Social Security Page that lists the conditions included in this program, click here
When the needed changes are implemented, it is important to thank those who were instrumental in the process, let them hear your voices and read your letters - it not only thanks them but it encourages them to do more in the future.
To sign an online THANK YOU card to the Social Security Administration for this recent action, please click here A pre-printed form will pop up and you simply fill in your contact information and click send.