New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim opens up about father's Alzheimer's diagnosis

"In a blink of an eye, I had gone from being a son to being a caregiver. You can't help but think that Alzheimer's won. We are the richest, most powerful country in the world. It shouldn't have to be this hard for people to get care when their family needs it."

"A private room at a long-term facility in New Jersey can cost up to $17,000, and Medicare doesn't always cover all medical expenses. The senator is now juggling his schedule by taking his father to early morning appointments, then heading to the Capitol. Kim said he can be very stressed and anxious during this time."

"The disease can start decades before the first symptom. But new medications can slow down cognitive decline in early-stage patients by attacking abnormal protein buildup in the brain. If you can be physically active, socially active, cognitively active, if you can maintain a good lifestyle in terms of diet, in terms of sleep, no smoking, no obesity."

New Jersey Senator Andy Kim disclosed his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis, describing the emotional transition from son to caregiver. His 78-year-old father, a South Korean immigrant and medical researcher who studied cancer and Alzheimer's, now requires extensive care. Kim balances his Senate duties with early morning medical appointments for his father while managing significant financial burdens—private long-term care facilities in New Jersey cost up to $17,000 monthly, with Medicare providing incomplete coverage. Nearly 200,000 New Jersey residents and 7 million Americans have Alzheimer's. Rutgers scientist Michal Schnaider Beeri notes the disease develops decades before symptoms appear, but new medications can slow cognitive decline in early stages. Prevention strategies include physical activity, social engagement, cognitive stimulation, healthy diet, adequate sleep, and avoiding smoking and obesity.

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