Alzheimers Listening Sessions to be Held

More than 5 million Americans across the nation are living with Alzheimers.

This type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior is the 6th leading cause of death in the US and kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. 1 in 3 seniors die with this disease or some other form of dementia.

The Wyoming Alzheimer’s Task Force will be holding a series of town hall listening sessions on this topic. Linda Chasson with the Wyoming Alzheimer’s Task Force says that the meetings are to identify what residents, health care providers, and others need in order to better serve those who are suffering from this terrible degenerative disease.

In 2016, unpaid caregivers such as family members or volunteers provided an estimated 18.2 billion hours of care. In 2017, the Alzheimer’s association estimates that this disease and other dementias will cost the nation over $259 billion dollars.

Chasson says the goal of the Wyoming State Plan is to create a document that can be used by individuals making decisions about how care can be provided in the state.

There will be a meeting in Worland on April 5 in the Washakie County Library’s large meeting room; in Cody the listening session will be at the Park County Library in the Grizzly Room. Both meetings will be from 3-5 p.m.