EH: When you deal with Alzheimer’s disease, and the outcome is so bleak and the burden is so enormous and the outcome so tragic, I’m always looking for the silver lining, the signs of hope, the one piece that shines clear that can motivate caregivers. The last piece of information that we got out of the survey – that two-thirds of caregivers reported that they’d become more compassionate through caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, and 75 percent reported that they felt stronger through caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease - these people hold me in awe. Perhaps these are the blessings that come with the burden of caregiving.

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To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, management, and treatment, read our guide to Understanding Alzheimers.

To read a full report of the AFA survey findings, visit www.alzfdn.org.