Smart911 Honors Those Affected by Alzheimer's and the Family Members Who Care for Them

FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Nov. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1983, when President Ronald Regan proclaimed November as National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, fewer than two million Americans had Alzheimer's disease. Today, the number has skyrocketed to 5.3 million. Providing care for loved ones affected by this condition is extremely physically and emotionally taxing. November is also National Family Caregivers Month, which highlights that an increasing number of Americans are caring for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities or health issues related to aging.

During November, the public safety experts at Smart911 wish to raise awareness for the struggles faced by people with Alzheimer's disease as well those who provide them with endless care. Smart911 also recommends that all households, not just ones with family members receiving or providing care, register a free Safety Profile, should a call to 9-1-1 need to be placed. This national service enables first responders to be aware of those with such conditions and related personal and medical details, resulting in faster, more precise emergency response, while offering greater peace of mind to family caregivers.

Facts about Alzheimer's Disease:

• 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease; 5.1 million are 65 or older. Almost two-thirds are women.
• This year, more than 700,000 people will die with Alzheimer's, or other forms of dementia.
• In just ten years, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million, a 40 percent increase from 2015.
• Only 45 percent of those with Alzheimer's, or their care providers, will be informed of the diagnoses.
• It is the sixth highest cause of death in the United States. It is the only cause of death on the top 10 list that cannot be cured or slowed.

The Effect on Family Caregivers:

• Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's can be devastating. In 2014, the friends and family of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias provided an estimated 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at $217.7 billion.
• Nearly 60 percent of those caregivers rated the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high to the point where approximately about 40 percent suffer from depression.
• The average number of hours family caregivers spend caring for their loved ones reaches 20 hours per week, but 13 percent of family caregivers are providing 40 hours of care a week or more.

Smart911 allows individuals and family caregivers to create a free, private and secure Safety Profile at www.smart911.com. The profiles can include such items as medical notes that enable emergency responders to approach and treat a person with Alzheimer's and other conditions properly and quickly; a particularly useful feature if the person cannot communicate or is confused. Information can also include family caregiver emergency contact details. Should someone with Alzheimer's dial 9-1-1 and be unable to recall personal details, the Safety Profile can provide a name and exact address. If they wander away from home and a family caregiver dials 9-1-1 from a phone number included in the profile, a photo can be immediately distributed to emergency responders to expedite a search.

For more information on how Smart911 can help, and additional tips and safety information, follow Smart911 on Facebook and Twitter (@smart911). 

Statistics Sources: Alzheimer's Association and Caregiver Action Network

About Rave Mobile Safety  
Rave Mobile Safety is the most trusted safety software partner, providing innovative communication software for better emergency preparedness and faster response. Used by leading education institutes, enterprises and state and local public safety agencies, the award-winning portfolio of Rave Alert, Rave Guardian, Eyewitness, Rave Panic Button, Smart911 and SmartPrepare protects millions of individuals. Rave Mobile Safety is headquartered in Framingham, Mass. For more information, please visit http://www.ravemobilesafety.com.

Media Contacts:  
JaeMi Pennington 
Davies Murphy Group 
[email protected]  
(781) 418-2401

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SOURCE Smart911

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