In an interview that I had done with Executive Director Trish Bergman at the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging some months ago, she had forewarned then of the coming “Silver Tsunami,” which is the coming crisis of boomers getting older and moving into assisted care facilities, as well as going senile and losing support, friends, and partners as the ravages of time take them. The Foredooming addition of “tsunami” is because the funding and resources that are barely available right now will be stretched translucent-thin in the years to come.

The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) in Washington, DC reports that by 2030, the number of residents in nursing homes will rise from 1.3 million to 2.3 million elderly. On top of this, the Alzheimer's Association reports that nearly 28 million boomers will develop Alzheimer's by 2040, and that alone will consume nearly 25% of all Medicare funding in the United States.

Not enough is being done, but some strive to make a difference; recently, on September 17th, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America held a conference in the metro area with the intent to help spread more information around the United States about the disease. The foundation’s president, Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., opened the conference, starting with having the audience fill out what was titled, “The Hardest Crossword Puzzle.” It had clues like: “Pat was born here,” and “Pat’s husband.” The goal was to both demonstrate forgetfulness of people like Pat, but also to showcase a neat tool that anyone can do with their own parents or grandparents: create with them a crossword puzzle of things they should absolutely know, and love. Perhaps once a year, have them go back to it and do it again to watch for signs of dementia.

The president also spoke about how to change the apartments and houses of those afflicted with Alzheimer's to better soothe and aid them in the waning years of their life. Soothing lights, instead of harsh LEDs, or even having a phone with large and clear buttons that have photos of the people they want to call on them. Weighted silverware, and even camera doorbells that can alert your phone when your parent or grandparent leaves the house.

The second speaker at the conference was Director and Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Daniel L. Murman, who spoke mostly about the disease itself and an upcoming medical drug-trial at UNMC, in which it's possible (if they qualify) that an Alzheimer's patient could receive a drug to help clear plaque from the brain and slow down the disease. Plaque buildup in a patient's brain tangles and disconnects brain cells. What’s worse is that the disease will start and fester decades before a person even shows symptoms.

There are so many contributing factors that all add to a person's chance to develop dementia: Physical inactivity, infections, high blood pressure, head injuries, lifestyle, diabetes, air pollution, age (elderly), gender (women get it more), and genetics. In an interview with Dr. Murman, he stated that the greatest factor in the speed, growth, and development of the disease depended on a person's cognitive resilience, which is greater the more of the aforementioned ‘contributing factors’ are in the positive.

When he was asked what people should look out for in regard to the signs of developing Alzheimer's, he spoke about "consistent forgetfulness.” he said that usually a person's awareness is high at the beginning, and they will likely know they are forgetting something that they shouldn't, often. However, as the disease progresses, that sense of awareness will slide away. Being lost in very familiar areas, as well as asking repetitive questions to others, are also important signs that they should seek medical attention.

“What drove you to study Alzheimer’s?” I asked.

“My grandmother had it in college.” He admitted and added that, “It is amazing to see how people cope with the disease, how they maintain their humanity.

After the good doctor spoke, the managing attorney and owner of Elder Law of Omaha, Catherine N. Swiniarski got in front of the crowd and tried to impress upon everyone just how important appointing the ‘Power of Attorney’ is. She spoke about how a document should be written up, even if that person is to be your wife or child, as “spouses and parents are not automatically appointed POA” – and that the document should be exceptionally comprehensive and acute in its wordage. Broad generalizations such as “to do all things necessary in connection herewith…about my estate…and me,” etc., often take many times longer to process in a law or a healthcare setting when time and efficiency could be exceptionally crucial.

The seats in the conference were full, yet too many people will be cursed with Alzheimer's in the coming years. Our economy, population, and medical system are not ready for it. I know I am not. A cure is not close, either.

“It is silly to guess, and akin to curing cancer. It is too complex and too intertwined with aging,” Dr Murman replied when I asked about curing it.

If you have a worry or have a loved one with the disease in need of aid, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America can be reached at 866-232-8484, or on their website at alzfdn.org.

Austin Petak is an aspiring novelist and freelance journalist who loves seeking stories and the quiet passions of the soul. If you are interested in reaching out to him to cover a story, you may find him at austinpetak@gmail.com.