Jacksonville medical leader: Dementia caregivers face a growing burden in Florida

We are facing a growing crisis in Florida that must be addressed. According to a new report from the Alzheimer’s Association Florida chapters, more than 840,000 of our neighbors, loved ones and colleagues in Florida are serving as unpaid dementia caregivers. As the number grows, so will the burden on Jacksonville families, employers and our health care infrastructure.

I know what it is like to have this disease steal from you everything you hold dear . I had the best mother anyone could have wanted. One day, while watching our baby, I found her standing outside my minivan, flustered and confused. I realized something was wrong.

After several more incidents, she was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. We lost her eight years later, although the mother I knew left us long before then. Because that’s what this disease does to families, it takes everything they loved about that person and leaves a shell in its place, devoid of a lifetime of memories. Sadly, my story is not unique.

In Duval County alone, more than 17,000 residents are estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s . That means thousands of families — fathers, mothers, children, siblings — are experiencing this terrible disease the way I did, and that number is only expected to grow.

By 2030, all members of the baby-boomer generation will be age 65 or older , the age range at greatest risk for Alzheimer’s and many of them choose to retire right here in Florida.

The burden of caregiving cannot be underestimated . According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s report, 18% of caregivers die before the person with dementia they are caring for — nearly one in five.

Just imagine the impact this has on local employers and our health care system. Studies show that more than 57% of employed caregivers had to go into work late, leave early or take off time due to caregiving demands. Working families are being taken out of the workforce at their prime and employers are feeling the effects.

What can we do to stop this health crisis?

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We must act as individuals and as a community to ensure caregivers have access to resources that help them navigate challenges. Our elected representatives must prioritize policies that meet the needs of caregivers, such as respite care, access to diagnosis and care navigation services, and programs that encourage mental and physical well-being.

Each of us also has a role. Reach out to the caregivers in your life. Ask them how they are doing and offer help, even the littlest task can make a big difference. Get involved in local efforts to make a difference. I chose to lead this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s event in Jacksonville on Saturday, Nov. 2. You can join by visiting alz.org/JacksonvilleWalk .

Finally, we must ensure caregivers know that resources exist in our community to help navigate the challenges of caregiving. Two local resources that I have found helpful include the Alzheimer’s Association Florida , whose chapters provide a 24/7 helpline at (800) 272-3900 to help address caregiving challenges, answer questions about Alzheimer’s, other types of dementia and more.

In addition, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs Elder Helpline provides information on local services and is available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (800) 963-5337.

As a community, we can impact the trajectory of this disease and reduce the burden on caregivers. But we can only get there if we are purposeful, engaged — and work together.

John Gol, chief financial officer, Borland Groover Clinic, and executive leadership committee chairman, Walk to End Alzheimer's Jacksonville

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions .

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville medical leader: Dementia caregivers face a growing burden in Florida