Bruce Willis' Dementia diagnosis is putting a recognizable face on a problem that's growing.
"Dementia is increasing," said Stephanie Leanes, a Memory Care Administrator at Lutheran Home in Wauwatosa.
She said more than 6 million people in the U.S. have dementia right now, and that number is expected to triple by 2050.
Leanes thinks the increase is because of increased awareness about dementia and its symptoms.
She said the more families know about dementia, the more likely they are to catch the warning signs in a loved one.
"People are educating themselves more and reaching out more for those resources that are in the community," Leanes said.
Leanes said her initial advice to patients and their families after a diagnosis is to take some time to process the diagnosis before setting to work on planning for the future.
Lutheran Home also runs Elaine’s Hope Memory Care facility, and a program called Mind Effects. Mind Effects works with patients diagnosed with Dementia, as well as their caregivers, to help them learn about to live with the illness.
For more resources on dementia, click here.