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to stay independent,” Amrine said. “There’s not really a lot of resources for them, and with the staffing crisis we’ve experienced over the last couple years in home health, it’s very difficult for them to get assistance.”

Even those with housing stability and adequate housing may find themselves out of luck when it comes to getting medical needs met due to staffing shortages at all levels and sky-high costs of prescription drugs.

“It’s a jumbled maze trying to get quality care,” said Jeanie Greenwell, a nurse and volunteer legislative advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association. “One of the things we discussed last March in Washington, D.C., is about streamlining care, because there are different agencies that have pockets of information, but there is nothing like a streamlined service for each area for seniors.”

Greenwell, who is active with the Kentucky Nurses Association, worked as a nurse for more than 18 years, including stints at Good Samaritan and Children’s Hospital. She echoed the concerns of others interviewed by LINK nky about staffing at all levels within the health care system that seniors rely on.

“Since COVID hit, we are losing a lot of geriatric doctors in general,” she said. “I know they’re trying to close the gap with nurse practitioners, but nurses are also overwhelmed. The current average age of nurses right now is about age 50, and soon we will be facing a lot of retirement. If we can’t retain new nurses, there is going to be a health care crisis on our hands.”

Scientific advancements have made early diagnosis of dementia possible in those as young as 50, and the test is typically covered by health insurers as a preventative health screening. But treatment to prevent the symptoms from progressing remains cost-prohibitive for most people, according to experts. A drug called Leqembi, for example, was approved earlier this year and typically costs $26,500 for a year’s prescription.

“Our main goal right now with the Alzheimer’s Association is trying to get the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to cover the three FDA-approved medications for slowing the progression of the disease,” said Greenwell, noting, “every other FDA-approved drug is covered by Medicare except for these Alzheimer’s drugs.”

Despite the drugs being cost-prohibitive, Greenwell advocates for taking the test as early as possible in order to adopt a healthy lifestyle and make financial decisions ahead of the progression of the disease.

“Having a diagnosis, especially when it’s early-onset, gives patients more time for financial planning and to figure out their advanced directive,” she said.

Burke and her family are lucky that they were able to plan while her dad was still able to make sound decisions. She now manages finances for both her parents.

“What’s different about dementia is that it can go on for so long, and it affects the entire family,” Burke said. “My dad’s neurologist said, ‘This disease kills caregivers before it kills patients,’ and I thought, ‘OK, I have to move back. My mom can’t do this by herself.’ ”

IMAGINE THIS…

an experience centered around five Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® Distilleries.

Local bourbon-centric bars, all with a culture of their own, and all named to The Bourbon Review’s list of The Best Bourbon Bars in America. Finally, mix in amazing restaurants cultivating the freshest tastes in bourbon culinary delights and you’re on the The B Line®