(Albany, NY – Apr. 15, 2024) The number of U.S. residents aged 65 or older living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, will double from nearly 7 million to 14 million by 2050, predicts the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2024 Annual Report.
“These facts reinforce the importance of the annual National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) on April 16 to remind people to think about their values and communicate their wishes to loved ones and healthcare providers/facilities through advance care planning,” said Jessica Empeño, a medical social worker who is national director of clinical engagement for Compassion & Choices, a national non-profit organization that advocates for expanding and improving end-of-life care options.
Compassion & Choices recently updated its free Dementia Values & Priorities Tool on its website. It is designed to help people communicate and document their future healthcare wishes before possibly developing dementia, or while in early-stage dementia with decision-making capacity, and is the only interactive dementia directive offered. The interactive Dementia Values & Priorities Tool guides individuals through a series of questions and educational videos specifically tailored to address changes commonly seen in the progression of all types of dementia.
“The importance of documenting end-of-life healthcare decisions cannot be overstated for people with dementia, who face many changes and unique challenges as the disease progresses,” said Empeño. “The stakes are even higher for women, who represent nearly two-thirds of Americans 65 or older living with Alzheimer’s disease.”
Corinne Carey, Compassion & Choices’ Senior Campaign Director for New York and New Jersey
Corinne Carey, Compassion & Choices’ Senior Campaign Director for New York and New Jersey, said:
“Albany lawmakers know Compassion & Choices best from our advocacy to pass the Medical Aid in Dying Act, but our organization does so much more than that to ensure people have the full range of end-of-life care options, including hospice and palliative care. On this National Healthcare Decisions Day, we are providing lawmakers with information about the suite of tools we’ve developed to help people plan for the care they want when facing a serious illness like dementia or a terminal diagnosis like cancer or ALS.
“We’ve partnered with several lawmakers already to offer resources and education to their constituents to ensure their wishes and values are respected should they ever find themselves unable to speak for themselves if they are diagnosed with dementia. On the other hand, passing New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act is critical to ensuring that terminally ill people who can speak for themselves have the ability to make their own decisions at the end of their lives. Doing so, however, won’t solve all end-of-life care challenges. That’s why it is critically important we get the tools to plan for care into the hands of those who need these tools the most,” Carey said.
Compassion & Choices
Media Contacts
David Blank
Media Relations Director
[email protected]
Phone: (227) 225 6553
Patricia A. González-Portillo
Senior National Latino Media Director
[email protected]
(323) 819 0310
Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750
