Costs of Alzheimer's Care Expected to Reach $200 Billion

In 2012, the direct costs of caring for those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias to American society will total about $200 billion, including $140 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid, according to a report released today by the Alzheimer's Association.

Average per-person Medicare payments for an older person with Alzheimer’s or another dementia are nearly 3 times higher than for an older person without these conditions. Medicaid payments are 19 times higher. These costs will only continue to soar in the coming years given the projected rapidly escalating prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease as the baby boomers age, according to the report, titled, “2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.” 

The report is online here. For extensive reporting about Alzheimer’s research see Psychiatric News here. And for more information about Alzheimer’s see The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry, Third Edition. Purchasing information is posted here.

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