News
CANS Story–Study: CA Families Shoulder Sky-high Costs of Dementia Care
June 25, 2025 – Suzanne Potter, Public News Service (CA)
Study: CA families shoulder sky-high costs of dementia care In California, families shoulder most of the burden of dementia care, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of Washington found patients in the Golden State require about $55,000 a year in care, but only about $10,000 of it is paid through private or government insurance.
Amy Lastuka, lead research scientist in the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, said the direct costs of doctor visits, prescriptions, home health aides and nursing homes are just the beginning.
“It’s particularly important to look at those indirect costs,” Lastuka explained. “Because people with dementia tend to need a lot of care, especially as they get into the later stages, they can need round-the-clock care.”
Researchers calculated the indirect costs, how much you would have to pay to hire someone to cover all the hours family and friends put in. Data show Americans spend $53 billion a year on direct medical care for the country’s 5.5 million dementia patients but the real cost is five times higher, at $277 billion.
Lastuka argued states should do more to support caregivers.
“I would say, invest in adult day centers, because that way you have a place where someone can go during the day and get some cognitive stimulation and get cared for,” Lastuka recommended. “Then, if your child is taking care of you, they could still work.”
The California Department of Aging’s website lists programs designed to lighten the load and help pay family caregivers.
Meanwhile, the reconciliation bill currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” could have profound effects on services helping older Americans age in place. The bill seeks to eliminate the federal Administration for Community Living, the agency overseeing regional Councils on Aging, which run programs like “Meals on Wheels.”