With the aging of the population, Alzheimer’s disease has become a major public health issue for us. 10,000 people would be affected, but there are no indicators to measure the evolution of the pathology. Moreover, care remains difficult and expensive.
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Published on September 21, 2022 at 2:30 p.m.,
updated on September 21, 2022 at 2:36 p.m.
According to geriatricians, 10,000 people suffer from the pathology in Guadeloupe. But in reality we do not know the rates of prevalence and incidence, for lack of epidemiological studies.
One certainty: Alzheimer’s disease is one of the main causes of dependency among the elderly. A real challenge in terms of public health for a territory destined to become by 2030, one of the oldest regions of France, if we believe the demographic forecasts.
The stakes are all the more crucial since in Guadeloupe we are confronted with the emergence of neurodegenerative pathologies and since Alzheimer’s disease, identified as the most frequent form of dementia, also affects young people.
The care of the sick is expensive and the specialized Alzheimer’s teams who intervene at home are only covered by Social Security for a maximum of three months out of the year.
However, the situation has improved in recent years, at the level of the supervisory staff. The medical profession is more sensitive to this and many training modules have been set up in EHPADs in particular.
However, there are still a few dark spots. This is the case of certain host families, a less expensive alternative to EHPADs, not always trained in the management of the disease.
The idea of early detection has also gained ground with families, who are now increasingly aware of the need to intervene very early to slow the progression of the disease.
The Guadeloupean singer Misié Sadik dedicated a song to Alzheimer’s disease, which his grandmother suffers from.
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Faced with major financial difficulties, the volunteers of France Alzheimer continue to serve as priests. A public utility association desperately looking for a place for psychological support to families.
This day is an opportunity to inform and raise awareness about this disease. It also makes it possible to pay special attention to sick people, their families, caregivers, but also to inform and raise awareness among the population. It is also an opportunity to publicize the many actions carried out in the territory throughout the year and to share scientific and therapeutic advances.
François Lemaistre, president of the France Alzheimer association
Also note that as part of this day dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease, actor Luc Saint-Eloi will present Christian Lara’s film “AL” which will be screened Friday evening at the Ciné Star. A film about Alzheimer’s disease.