Nestled in North Carolina's renowned Research Triangle, Cary has a population of just under 177,000 people. According to the U.S. Census, 12.5% of them are seniors. The majority of people with Alzheimer's are in this age group, with 10.7% of people over 65 diagnosed with the disease. The prevalence of Alzheimer's and dementia increases with age — in the U.S., 33.2% of people over 85 suffer from it. Unfortunately, the number of people with the disease is expected to increase to nearly 13 million nationwide by 2050. In Cary, there was a 30.58% increase in Alzheimer's-related deaths between 2016 and 2020 alone. For comparison, all deaths during the same four years climbed by only 24.74%.
People with Alzheimer's and dementia who need some day-to-day assistance might consider residential dementia care. Memory care communities have staff available 24/7 to provide companionship and medical supervision. These caregivers can keep track of important things like medication, hydration and nutrition. This guide talks about the cost of memory care and its alternatives in Cary and lists some of the city's dementia-focused resources.