Government must do a better job helping rural families with Alzheimer’s | Opinion

I’ve seen the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease in my family and my community. New treatments can slow down the disease, giving people more time to live independently and easing the burden of care giving. But it’s very difficult for people living in rural areas to gain access to this specialized medical care. Government must make a concerted effort to strengthen access to care for rural communities and urgently increase resources for caregivers.

I am a pastor at a 140-year-old church in Paris. Our youngest parishioners are 60 years old, and our oldest is 93. We have many war veterans and people of color, like myself. The signs of aging are all around us. Several parishioners are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, and others have some form of dementia. Not a week goes by where I don’t hear stories about the challenges of losing independence, and the heavy responsibilities that families are shouldering as caregivers.

Nearly seven million people are living with Alzheimer’s, and that number will grow. Our leaders in government must understand the need to close gaps in care for rural populations. For people living in eastern Kentucky, the closest medical center is in Lexington. If a primary care doctor were to see symptoms of dementia and recommend testing for Alzheimer’s disease, a person would have to travel 80 miles to get a diagnostic test. If a diagnosis is confirmed and treatment recommended, that person would have to travel to the clinic every few weeks for a year or more to receive the medication.

This is simply impossible for many rural families who don’t have the resources or caregiver support you need to navigate the system. If you haven’t dealt with this disease, you have no idea what to expect, or how to coordinate getting the care needed between various doctors and healthcare centers. Caregiver responsibilities take people away from work and social engagements, and respite is almost nonexistent. I’ve seen the grave effect it’s had on my two daughters as they’ve cared for their mother who has dementia, as well as on my sister, whose husband passed away from dementia in April.

I worry about the next generation. Studies show Alzheimer’s can be present for decades before symptoms appear. Community leaders, together with government, should raise awareness of this problem with people young and old, encourage all to keep their minds healthy through good nutrition and exercise, and to seek medical care if symptoms appear.

New treatments have given hope to so many who have watched their parents and loved ones succumb to this disease and now worry about symptoms of their own. We can seize this moment to effect change and start to improve access, ensuring that care is available to all regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic background. I hope our leaders in Kentucky, as well as the next Presidential administration and the new U.S. Congress, will make this a priority.

Reverend James Thurman is a pastor at Zion Baptist Church in Paris, Kentucky.