When beloved actor Gene Hackman was found dead in his Santa Fe home last month, the shocking details left fans and family advocates reeling. The 95-year-old Oscar winner spent his final days alone and confused, unable to care for himself after the sudden passing of his wife, Betsy. Medical examiners revealed the heartbreaking reality: Suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease, Hackman likely didn't even understand that his wife had died just days earlier.

The French Connection star, who had captivated audiences for decades, was discovered with no food in his stomach, collapsed in his home's mudroom. Even more devastating, his pacemaker data showed he had survived nearly a week on his own in a severely compromised mental state.

If this tragedy could happen to a Hollywood legend with substantial resources, what hope exists for average families facing the dementia care crisis?

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