Alzheimer’s disease, which causes memory loss involving forgetting person, place and time, has been diagnosed in 44 million people worldwide. This month, as the Denver Broncos compete in the Super Bowl, they will strive for their NFL championship as their owner, Pat Bowlen, continues to battle Alzheimer’s disease. The Bowlen family did plan ahead effectively and the football team was securely placed in a family trust years before the announcement of Pat’s Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.
It was in 2009 that Bowlen’s memory loss was first discussed with a newspaper columnist and in 2010 he no longer played a role in the team’s business decisions. His family will attend Super Bowl 50 but he will not (he is the father of 7 children).
The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown, and the Denver Bronco’s owner certainly engaged his brain in activity throughout his life, as he was also an attorney and involved in other business interests, in addition to having the challenge of operating a successful NFL franchise.
Recently Congress approved more funding to research Alzheimer’s disease, which the Alzheimer’s Association estimates costs the U.S. $226 billion in caregiving in 2015 as 5.3 million Americans live with the disease (1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65).
Regardless of which team you are cheering for in the Super Bowl, take the time to learn how you can become more involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Plan ahead for your senior care needs and if you are interested in becoming a senior caregiver, either part-time or full-time, take an online caregiver training course to begin working as a caregiver as more caregivers are needed to assist with caring for America’s growing number of seniors.
