Dementia in our aging society

• The Growing Crisis of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
  Dementia, and more specifically Alzheimer’s disease, is one of the most critical public health challenges today. With the number of affected individuals continuing to rise, the economic, emotional, and societal burden is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
• The Scale of the Problem
  In 2023, an estimated 6.7 million Americans over the age of 65 are living with Alzheimer's disease, representing about 10.8% of the population in that age group. Globally, more than 55 million people are living with dementia, with 10 million new cases reported every year. Dementia is now the seventh leading cause of death worldwide and a major cause of disability among older adults.
• The Cost of Care
  Caring for people with dementia is incredibly costly. In 2023, the U.S. alone is expected to spend $345 billion on dementia care, with Medicare and Medicaid covering 64% of the costs. However, this figure excludes the 18 billion hours of unpaid care provided by over 11 million caregivers, valued at $339.5 billion. Projections suggest that by 2050, these total care costs will soar to $1 trillion. The lifetime cost of care for an individual with dementia is estimated to be around $392,874.
• Caregiver Burden
  The impact of dementia extends beyond the patients to the unpaid caregivers, the majority of whom are family members. In 2022, there were over 11 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S., 66% of whom were women, and many were daughters of those affected. Caregivers often face significant financial strain, with 41% of them earning household incomes below $50,000. In addition to the economic challenges, 70% of caregivers report that coordinating care is stressful, and two-thirds have difficulty finding the resources they need. The emotional and physical toll on caregivers is profound, with increased risks of emotional  distress and poor health outcomes due to the intensive care requirements.
• Workforce Shortages and Regional Disparities
  The care infrastructure for dementia patients is critically under-resourced. 55% of primary care physicians (PCPs) report a shortage of dementia care specialists in their areas, a figure that rises dramatically in rural regions. By 2025, 20 states in the U.S. will face a shortage of neurologists needed to diagnose and treat dementia, while another 12 states will need to increase their number of geriatricians fivefold to meet the growing demand. Furthermore, the direct care workforce is facing a crisis, with high turnover rates—64% annually for home care workers and 99% for nursing assistants in nursing homes. An estimated 1.2 million additional direct care workers will be needed by 2030 to meet the increasing demand for services, especially as employment levels in these fields remain below pre-pandemic levels due to COVID-19.