Complications Due to Dementia – Country Star Hal Ketchum Dead at 67

Another notable person has died due to some form of dementia. Nineties country music star Hal Ketchum, known for songs like "Small Town Saturday Night," "Past the Point of Rescue," "Sure Love," "Hearts Are Gonna Roll," and "Mama Knows the Highway," has passed away at the age of 67.

Ketchum's death, announced by his wife Andrea on his Facebook Page, died on November 23, 2020, due to complications from dementia.

Retired in 2019 Due to Dementia

Country Now reported that Ketchum retired from music in 2019 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

"He has been battling this for some time now, but because of his love for his fans, he continued performing as long as it was possible," 

"Dementia is an exhausting and confusing illness, and now it's time for Hal to stay home with loved ones. Hal is otherwise healthy and happy, enjoying time with his family and friends," she wrote at the time. 

Ketchum Was Huge in the 90s

Ketchum, who was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1994, released 11 albums during his career. He hit number two twice on the singles chart with "Small Town Saturday Night," "Past the Point of Rescue." 

Social media was remembering his life.

"He has been battling this for some time now, but because of his love for his fans, he continued performing as long as it was possible," Andria Ketchum wrote in 2019. 

According to reports, he had had early-onset dementia throughout his tour in early 2019. 

Alzheimer’s – An Exhausting and Confusing Illness

"Dementia is an exhausting and confusing illness, and now it's time for Hal to stay home with loved ones. Hal is otherwise healthy and happy, enjoying time with his family and friends," she wrote at the time. 

Ketchum, who was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1994, released 11 albums during his career. He hit number two twice on the singles chart with "Small Town Saturday Night" and "Past the Point of Rescue." 

In 1998 he had been diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis, which is a neurological disorder. It impacted his spinal column leaving him without the use of the left side of his body. He was forced to re-learn routine tasks, including how to walk and play the guitar.

One in Three Senior’s Die with Dementia

Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. However, the memory disease is known for what it does to the individual before dying. One in three seniors dies of some type of dementia. One in five women age 45+ will have dementia - one in ten men will suffer the same fate. 

Memory loss and confusion are the main symptoms of Alzheimer's, requiring the individual to need help with daily activities and supervision. Generally, family members will provide care unless there is enough money for paid care services or if the person has a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, which will pay for care services. Health insurance, including Medicare and supplements, will not pay for long-term health care, including care for dementia of any kind.