73% of dementia-related costs are borne by the family and 86% of caregivers are women, study says

National Dementia Report in Brazil reveals patients’ needs are unmet, while healthcare workers are overburdened and need training on the condition

At least 73% of costs associated with the care of people with folly They are supported by family, friends or neighbors and, in most cases, women are primarily responsible for caring for the person suffering from this condition. These are the data published this month in National report on dementia in Brazil (ReNaDe)produced by Alemão Oswaldo Cruz Hospital in collaboration with the Ministry of Health through the Support program for the institutional development of the Unified Health System (PROADI-SUS).

The survey also shows that many of these women who become caregivers need to interrupt paid work to provide the necessary care to their family member suffering from dementia, a usually progressive clinical condition that affects the individual’s cognitive functions and capacity. to carry out daily activities. “It is among the main causes of years of life lost and years lived with disability in the elderly population. It is the seventh cause of death in the world and the fourth cause of death among people aged 70 years or older in Brazil,” states the release of the text of the report.

According to the document, it is estimated that dementia will have a global cost in 2019 1 trillion US dollars (approximately R$4.8 trillion) and that more than half of this cost comes from informal unpaid care, generally carried out by female family members.

In general, direct costs include hospital admissions, outpatient visits, the purchase of medicines, as well as indirect costs related to costs resulting from informal care offered by family or friends and the loss of productivity of the person providing care.

According to the study, indirect costs, those relating to informal care generally provided by a family member or friend of the person living with dementia, represent at least 73% of total costs, regardless of the stage of dementia. Therefore, people with dementia and their family caregivers bear a significant portion of dementia-related costs.

“Costs resulting from informal care, i.e. care provided by family and/or friends, represent at least 73% of the total costs of dementia in society, and can reach 81.3% depending on the stage of dementia.”

This reflects the care-related burden on families of people living with dementia, as immediate family members carry out the majority of care. This average monthly cost per person increases based on the stage of dementia of the person being cared for.

The percentage of indirect costs still remains rather high in all Brazilian regions, being higher in the Northeast region and lower in the South of the country.

The research was conducted on 140 people diagnosed with dementia monitored by the SUS and their family caregivers in five regions of Brazil, including cities of different sizes.

The study reveals that every person with dementia has unmet needs, regardless of the stage of the disease, and that most caregivers are family members, not professionals. Although most caregivers still work outside the home, they dedicate, on average, 10 hours of care per day for a person with dementia.

According to the latest demographic census of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the general Brazilian population increased by 6.4%, while the number of people aged 60 or over grew by 56%, or nine times more. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that more than 55 million people are living with dementia worldwide, with projections to reach more than 150 million individuals by 2050. In Brazil, it is estimated that, in 2019 , 1.85 million people were living with dementia and projections indicate this number will triple by 2050, according to the study.

Profile of people with dementia

The research involved 140 people with dementia, 69.3% of whom were women. On average they were 81.3 years old. The study shows that 75.7% had less than four years of schooling. Of the total patients suffering from dementia, 22% were in the initial stage of the disease (CDR 1), 38% in the moderate stage (CDR 2) and 40% in the advanced stage (CDR 3).

The report also reveals that 42% were not using any type of dementia medication. Of those who used it, only 15% took the drug for free at the facility Unified Health System (SUS).

Also according to the survey, 51.4% turned to the private healthcare service at some point to obtain a diagnosis.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.