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We want to firstly raise awareness to prevent Alzheimers and its progression, as well as its impact on the families and the estimated 15 million unpaid Alzheimers caregivers in the US alone.

Most caregivers are over the age of 65 and possibly retired; however, everything changes when the disease hits at an earlier age. Approximately, 13% of caregivers are in the "sandwich generation", meaning that they also have children of their own under the age of 18 to care for as well. A Pew Center study estimates that 1 in 8 Americans between the ages of 40 and 60 are providing financial support to both a child and parent. Clara was only 64 when she had to take early retirement and was later diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimers. She was divorced, living alone in Louisville, Kentucky and her daughters were in their 30's, working full-time and trying to start families of their own. Leigh lived in Chicago and Whitney was in Miami Beach.

During this 9-year journey, we have found that most people know very little about Alzheimers unless they have had personal experience with the disease. Movies like The Notebook and Still Alice certainly help but there is so much more. Many only know about the very end stage when the patient barely recognizes any family members, if at all. What's missing is information on the lack of resources and support structure for the AD patient, family and caregivers leading up to the final stages.

There's a very long road and many untold stories leading up to this point. Most are too painful for family members to share.

Alzheimers is the 6th leading cause of death in the US and every 67 seconds someone new is diagnosed. Approximately 5.3 million in the US suffer from Alzheimers and in 2015 alone, the disease will cost our nation over $226 billion. The costs are expected to rise to $1.1 trillion by 2050 with more than 13.8 million expected to be impacted by the disease.

According to the Alzheimers Association, these figures do not take into account the 17.9 billion hours of unpaid care provided by family members and loved ones valued at $217.7 billion. Unlike diabetes, cancer and heart disease, there are many large gaps in our current health care system related to Alzheimers and the burden falls on the families. We have personally experienced many of these gaps. Waitlist after waitlist, denial of public assistance after three application submissions, limitations of the Visting Nurse Association (VNA) and complete breakdown and unpreparedness in our local and state governments. We had to move Clara to Florida because there were no long-term care solutions available in Kentucky in time.

An 2000-2013 Alzheimers Association study looking at causes of death, cited decreases in causes of deaths for breast cancer (2%), prostate cancer (11%), heart disease (14%), stroke (23%) and HIV (52%); whereas, deaths caused by Alzheimers increased 71%.

Alzheimers is currently the most expensive disease to our nation and if we do not invest in research NOW, the financial impact will bankrupt more and more families and our healthcare system.

Our health care system and our families are SEVERELY unprepared to deal with the devastating impact of Alzheimers, especially when it hits early and the ripple impacts the sandwich generation.

It is unfortunately too late for Clara and our family. However, in celebration of Clara's life, how she suffered and all the love and goodness she stands for, we invite you to join us to raise awareness and make a difference for those whom are impacted next.

In lieu of flowers or other condolence gifts, we encourage you to support Alzheimers University to impact the necessary changes that are desperately needed. Supporting the Alzheimer's University will provide funds for research and more families like ours to join together and find the courage the tell these very difficult stories.

Are you prepared for Alzheimers?

What happens to Alzheimers patients without family members who can care for them or the resources to pay for the appropriate memory care facility?

As Medicaid beds have been cut and facilities have less beds, what happens to people who do not have a house and an investment fund to sell to cover the $3,500 - $9,000 per month as the disease progresses?

If you or a family member is diagnosed, what plan, insurance and financial resources do you have in place to manage the care and medical costs?

When appropriate, who will you designate to take over to become your power of attorney and health care surrogate?

How Can You Help?

1) Donate to help raise awareness
2) Volunteer at a memory care facility and get to know someone with Alzheimers
3) Write to your Congressmen and Senators

Biography & Obituary

Clara Pierce Belker (73) passed away on May 24th in Miami, FL after a long battle with Alzheimers. She lived most of her life in Louisville and is the daughter of Renford Carew Pierce (SC) and Mabel Pullen Macy Pierce (TX).

Clara attended Eastern High School and University of Kentucky prior to working as a legal secretary and a flight attendant for American Airlines based out of Chicago. She loved to travel and went off to study at the Sorbonne in Paris for six weeks and later traveled Europe. She was requested to be a flight attendant for Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign. She later served as the Treasurer of the Kiwi Club, an organization for retired flight attendants. Clara played tennis and was a member at the Standard Country Club. Friends and family frequented Clara's kitchen for one of her exquisite homecooked meals. She was also a talented seamstress and homemaker. Later in life she worked in nursing administration at Central State Hospital. She was passionate about civil rights and many social causes. She was even in Washington, DC to witness Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech.

Clara is survived by her two daughters, Whitney Belker Vauvelle who lives in Miami Beach and in Harrogate, North Yorkshire (UK) with her husband Robin Vauvelle and three stepsons Oliver, Andre and Alfie; and her youngest daughter, Leigh Belker Rivas who lives in Chicago with her husband Alexander Scott Rivas and their twin daughters Vivienne and Sienna. She is also survived by siblings: David Macy, Mary Jane Rogers, Anna Weiss, and Susan Maggard.

Clara was a fun-loving and supportive mother known for her smile, laugh, and quick wit sense of humor. As Alzheimers progressed and her cognitive abilities declined, she surprisingly never lost her sense of humor. Music and dancing became her favorite past-time; and we will forever miss our dancing Queen.

Memorial Service will be June 4th, 5:30 PM at Springdale Presbyterian Church 7812 Brownsboro Rd, Louisville, KY 40241 and visitation will be from 4:30-7:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to either the Alzheimers University www.Alzu.org/Clara or the Lotus House www.lotushouse.org.

For checks, please make payable to "Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic Fund in Memory of Clara Belker".

Checks can be mailed to:
Tom Horton, Department of Neurology
525 E 68th St. F610
New York, NY 10065
(212)746-4599
email: tchorton@med.cornell.edu

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