Health Care Challenges Deal with More Than Those Sick

There are times in all of our lives when we are presented with sets of challenges regarding friendships and how best to deal with those great relationships that have spanned decades during those many special years without endangering that special relationship. Such is the case with great friends who are dealing with health issues you might feel inadequate regarding to how you should respond to those challenges they or their significant others are facing.

Such has been the case recently with a wonderful college friend who is suffering from issues in regard to early onset dementia which has unfortunately progressed quite rapidly. He was and is a wonderful friend, as is his wife. I have visited both of them at least twice and Janet and I have visited with them once at their home in the last two years.

His condition has continued to have regressed some from when I became aware of this unfortunate condition. This is the second such friend that has befallen to this dreadful malaise that strips away the basic sense of dignity once shared between so many individuals and the wonderful memories shared by so many couples.

During this recent trip to New England, I didn’t have the necessary time to visit with one of those couples once again but will return for a visit with my friends Tom and Donna in the next 30 days, even though she may have felt slighted as I didn’t have time during this last visit. 

The other couple I knew and loved so much from my past life in my small community will have both passed from us over the last couple of years, and I am sure now they enjoying the wonderful memories they shared over their many years together they were unable to do towards the end.

I write of these two separate couples to highlight the work being done locally with memory care right here on our beautiful little island. There are several couples here on Marco Island who are struggling with the pain brought about by these same struggles, and at least two of those couples are wonderful friends of mine and great members of this community, who have contributed much to the success of this wonderful place we continue to call home today.

The expansion of the local YMCA will contribute greatly to the island’s contribution to the beginning of the recognition of the great battle we have ahead of us in dealing with this terrible challenge facing our aging population and the challenges facing the needs of that segment of our growing population base.

Collier County is showing a 65+ population at 131,400 as of 2020 and steadily rising. We will be witnessing a continued rise in the 65+ population rise by the end of 2030 as well as a demand for more aging population services in the future, with a patient load of approximately 16,400 diagnosed as of 2020, or 12.4% of the population over 65+ with dementia/Alzheimer diagnosis type afflictions.

I bring these numbers to your attention as we must become more aware of the challenges facing our aging community and be prepared to deal with the requirements as our population demographics change over the years. We must be prepared to meet those challenges in the future, not only for those suffering from normal ailments but for those struggling to care for those who are helping those in need.