“The Boomer” is a column written for adults nearing retirement age and those already in their “golden years.” It will also promote reader interaction by posting e-mail responses and answering reader questions. E-mail your questions or topic ideas to thefoxboomer@gmail.com.

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month. Fellow baby boomers, I know very well what you think when you hear the word “Alzheimer’s.”

‘Never going to happen to me. Was a shame to see that happen to my once-so-sharp and witty [name of friend/relative you know affected by the disease here]. That just happens to old people,  I’ll never get old.’

But deep down, we all know there is more to it than that. And here are some statistics from the 2010 Alzheimer’s association report  that we cannot afford to ignore:

•One in 8 people aged 65 and older (13%) have Alzheimer’s disease

•Every 70 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s. By mid-century, someone will develop the disease every 33 seconds

•The number of Americans surviving into their 80s and 90s and beyond is expected to grow dramatically due to advances in medicine and medical technology, as well as social and environmental conditions. Since the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias increase with age, the number of people with these conditions will also grow rapidly. 

•The 85-years-and-older population currently includes about 2.4 million people with Alzheimer’s disease … when the first wave of baby boomers reaches age 85 (2031), an estimated 3.5 million people aged 85 and older will have Alzheimer’s. 

•By 2050, the number of Americans aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s is projected to number between 11 and 16 million – unless medical breakthroughs identify ways to identify or more effectively treat the disease. Barring such developments, by 2050 more than 60% of people with Alzheimer’s disease will be 85 or older.

Click here for details on top risk factors and warning signs of the disease.

What can baby boomers do today to fight Alzheimer’s and the effects it potentially could have on us and/or our loved ones?

For answers to this question, Boomer turned to a nurse Diane Walker, vice president at Griswold Special Care and editor for Caring Times, who has spent 30 years educating on the subject and helping families to care for loved ones affected by the disease. 

No. 1: Don’t Hide/Ignore the Truth

Walker: We all have a tendency to avoid difficult situations, and I feel such tremendous empathy for adult children who want to respect their parents’ independence. And today, kids often don’t live near their parents and therefore see them rather infrequently.

[Adults today] have a tendency to kind of hide some of the changes that occur as we age, and this only occurs more frequently as we get older. I remember my parents, my mother would never tell us if she had a physical problem and if my father was worried about something, he would never acknowledge it. I had never even looked inside my father’s checkbook until he became ill.

Things that have potential to be a reality check or maybe raise difficult feelings of fear and anxiety, we tend to avoid those discussions … but the most important thing for people to understand is that we are going to age and eventually we are going to have health problems -- and if [we are prone to suffer from dementia] it is particularly important to plan.

No. 2: Make Decisions Now About Who Should/Will Be Your Caregivers

Walker:  Older adults should recognize the fact that part of aging is to acquire some physical limitations, and to plan for how you will manage those limitations is critical. And having a discussion with your children about what your wishes are and how to financially make those wishes come true is a must.

It is important to have the discussion [and to recognize ahead of time that studies show] spouses and children who care for individuals who have dementia are at significantly higher health risks than other normal adults who don't have those responsibilities. It is particularly true for spouses, who are also more prone to developing dementia later in life.

We don't know the reason for that at this time but No. 1 planning ahead, No. 2 having the conversation and No. 3 understanding the risks placed on care givers is very important.

Do you or a loved on suffer from Caregiver burden? Click here for more details.