Survey: Half of primary care physicians providing dementia care say medical profession unprepared to meet expected increase in demand

Nine out of 10 primary care physicians who provide dementia care expect to see an increase in such patients in the next five years, yet half say the medical profession is not prepared to meet the demand, according to a new survey.

For the first time, the Alzheimer’s Association’s “2020 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report is accompanied by a study examining the experiences, exposure, training and attitudes related to dementia care among primary care physicians (PCPs), recent medical school graduates and recent residency program graduates now in primary care practice. The report found that 82% of PCPs say they are on the front lines of providing dementia care, but not all are confident in their care for patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.  In addition:

• Nearly two in five (39%) report they are “never” or only “sometimes comfortable” making a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other dementias.
• Nearly one-third (27%) report they are “never” or only “sometimes comfortable” answering patient questions about Alzheimer’s or other dementias. 
• 22% of all PCPs had no residency training in dementia diagnosis and care. Of the 78% who did undergo training, 65% reported that the amount was “very little.”

Ensuring PCPs are adequately prepared to deliver dementia care is critically important, observers say, given a shortage of dementia care specialists. A state-by-state analysis in the report examines the number of geriatricians needed to meet future care needs of seniors living with dementia in 2050. It revealed severe shortages in several states, with 14 states needing to increase the number of practicing geriatricians at least five-fold to meet the projected care needs of people living with dementia in 2050.

In 2019, there were 348 practicing geriatricians in Florida, according to the report. It is estimated that 1,365 are needed to meet the meet the future dementia care needs of Florida’s seniors in 2050 – a 292% increase.

“With the number of Florida residents living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias increasing, it’s critically important that we take steps to ensure primary care physicians and other providers across the state are fully prepared to meet current and future dementia care needs,” said Angela McAuley, regional leader for the Alzheimer’s Association in Florida. “The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to helping primary care physicians and all who provide care to Florida residents living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.”

The “Facts and Figures” report provides an in-depth look at the latest national and state-specific statistics on Alzheimer’s prevalence, incidence, mortality, costs and impact on caregivers. New disease-related statistics for Florida revealed the following:

• Number of Florida residents aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s: 580,000
• Estimated number of Florida residents living with Alzheimer’s in 2025: 720,000
• Percentage change: 24.1
• Statewide deaths from Alzheimer’s disease (2018): 6,725
• Number of Florida residents serving as unpaid family caregivers: 1.2 million
• Total hours of unpaid care provided: 1.3 billion
• Total value of unpaid care: $17.2 billion

“The new ‘Facts and Figures’ report shows that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias continue to be a significant burden for too many Florida families,” McAuley said. “We must continue to work aggressively to advance new treatments that can stop or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, while also continuing to provide care and support services to help all those affected.”