According to a new survey published on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, nearly one in two French people (44%) has a person affected by the pathology in his entourage.
Conducted among more than 6,000 French people aged between 40 and 79, a new survey highlights the heavy mental burden that weighs on the carers of a person living with Alzheimer’s disease: 75% say they feel obliged to be reachable at any time (compared to 69% for caregivers of elderly parents).
Alzheimer’s, a taboo subject?
“All the indicators confirm the intensity of the help they provide. We note in particular the significant differences on tasks that are more difficult to reconcile with family and/or professional life such as washing and meals (17% against 10% for carers in general) or supervision (36% versus 21%)”, points out Nina Zerrar, assistant in charge of economic analysis at the Médéric Alzheimer Foundation.
The study also highlights the difficulties for caregivers to confide on the subject. : among people with a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease, more than half admit that they never talk about it, and 20% talk about it “hardly”, reveals the Kantar Public poll.
The Personal Autonomy Allowance
These persistent taboos can lead to a lack of knowledge about the disease and its treatment methods: 67% of people questioned are unaware, for example, that the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is never 100% certain, while 62% do not know that the Personal Autonomy Allowance pays a caregiver.
The prevalence of Alzheimer’s also leaves little room for optimism among the French about the risks of being affected in turn: 50% of them think that they will probably be affected by the disease if they reach age of 80.
“At a time when it seems to have completely disappeared from political priorities, it is essential to provide appropriate and concrete responses to this dual public health and social challenge. Remember that 2 million sick people could be affected by 2040”, insists Hélène Jacquemont, president of the Médéric Alzheimer Foundation.
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