The Associated Press recently ran an article on the cost of caregiving for elders with Alzheimer's Disease.
The article states: "The health care costs of Alzheimer's disease patients are more than triple those of other older people, and that doesn't even include the billions of hours of unpaid care from family members, a new report suggests." For the full article, click here.
One of the Minnesota Elder Economic Security Initiative's goals is to increase support for family caregivers. One of our policy recommendations states: "Reform and redefine health care and 'long-term care' to increase emphasis on wellness and prevention. Increase access to care provided in the elder's own home and community and increase support for family caregivers." For more information on our policy recommendations, visit the Wider Opportunities for Women website.
Approximately 5.3 million people have Alzheimer's, with another half million expected to be diagnosed next year according to the Alzheimer's Association.
By Marie Nelson
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The Elder Index findings of the Minnesota Elder Economic Security Initiative go a long way towards quantifying the costs of home and community-based long term care for elders. The findings show that long term care costs can double if not triple an elder's expenses! For those who require high levels of routine care, like elders in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease, the costs are even more extensive.
ReplyDeleteAt the national level, like in Minnesota, WOW is working to support and strengthen policies that will help family caregivers and elders remain financially secure. For instance, WOW supports the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2009. This legislation would honor and compensate the work of family caregivers by crediting care given in the Social Security record.