Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy, were found deceased in their New Mexico home earlier this year under seemingly suspicious circumstances. But after some investigation, we learned that their passing was simple, but tragic. Betsy died of Hantavirus and Hackman, who had advanced Alzheimer’s disease, wandered around their home for a week, unable to care for himself or call for help.
Their story is harrowing, but components of their final days are not uncommon for millions of Americans with dementia and their caregivers. The Hackmans could’ve benefited from coordinated dementia care, a model of care that improves outcomes for patients and caregivers alike. Many Americans could benefit, too. Fortunately, interest in and implementation of this type of care is growing.
I wrote about this last week for BU Today. You can read more here.
