New dementia care tool benefits caregivers

Currently, 6 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2021) this number could grow to approximately 13 million by 2050. Dementia causes progressive deterioration and loss of brain function, specifically the brain’s ability to process and interpret both internal and external stimuli, resulting in behavioral challenges and difficulty communicating needs (Gitlin et al., 2008). Within care homes, up to 90% of people with dementia display behaviors that are challenging for staff to manage (Surr et al., 2016). Behavioral disturbances cause caregiver burnout and decreased quality of life for both the individual with dementia and the caregiver(s) (Gitlin et al., 2010). The personal and economic burden is high. “In 2019, 16 million family members and friends provided 18.6 billion hours of unpaid care to people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, valued at nearly $244 billion” (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).