Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a progressive neurological illness that impairs the thinking and independence of millions of people worldwide. The risk of developing the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States increases with age.

Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on patients, families and caregivers is a growing public health concern. States have a keen interest in Alzheimer’s and dementia policy with the rising numbers of diagnosable cases, the large impact the disease has on state and federal budgets and the possibilities of intervention. As generational shifts occur, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s is estimated to increase rapidly.

Quick Facts

People

• An estimated 5.7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018.
• This disease disproportionately affects women in the United States, where two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.     
• Eighty-three percent of the help provided to older adults in the United States comes from family members, friends or other unpaid caregivers. 

Costs

• An estimated $277 billion will be spent on Alzheimer’s care in 2018 including $186 billion in Medicare and Medicaid payments.
• In 2018 dollars, Alzheimer's is expected to cost more than $1.1 trillion by 2050 without intervention, increasing government spending under Medicare and Medicaid by 4 times the current spending.
• Early diagnosis—before dementia—would save $7 trillion to $7.9 trillion in health and long-term care costs.

The State Role

State policymakers can:

• Increase public awareness, early detection and diagnosis
• Convene an Alzheimer’s/dementia task force to review implement and update state plans
• Build a dementia-capable workforce
• Increase access to home and community-based services through funding for dementia specific care
• Establish a Dementia Services Coordinator position within the state department of health