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.”

https://www.publicnewsservice.org/

ALTERNATIVE RADIO with David Barsamian Tues 5pm, Sat 4pm

One of America’s most tireless and wide-ranging investigative journalists, David Barsamian has altered the independent media landscape, both with his weekly radio program, Alternative Radio—39 years and running— and his books with Noam Chomsky, Eqbal Ahmad, Howard Zinn, Tariq Ali, Richard Wolff, Arundhati Roy and Edward Said. His recent books are Culture and Resistance, Retargeting Iran, Chronicles of Dissent and Notes on Resistance. His latest book is with Arundhati Roy, The Architecture of Modern Empire. David lectures on world affairs, imperialism, capitalism, propaganda, the media and global rebellions.

CODE PINK with Medea Benjamin Tues 4pm, Sat 3pm

Bases Off Cyprus – Cyprus as a key node in the Anglo-American Empire

This week on CODEPINK Radio, CODEPINK’s Digital Content Producer & Bases Off Cyprus Coordinator, Nuvpreet Kalra, speaks with Matthew from Genocide-Free Cyprus. They discuss the role of Cyprus and British bases in facilitating US-Israeli attacks on Iran, genocide against the Palestinian people, and US imperialism writ large.

Tune in each week for robust conversations with global grassroots peacemakers, from Yemen to Venezuela to Iran to right here in the U.S. Join us for weekly updates on the global antiwar movement and learn how you can help end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights, nurture a peace economy in your local community, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs, and other life-affirming programs.

Radio Review: Led by a team of courageous women who bring attention to what others are often afraid to say out loud, Codepink Radio is an important voice for peace and sensible US policies.– Assal Rad

FRIENDLY FIRE with Don Kimball TODAY 4PM

A show for and About Veterans

FRIENDLY FIRE traveled to Washington D.C. last week to cover a press conference and demonstration by Veterans for Peace and About Face who were there to oppose fascism, the military’s presence in our cities and budget cuts to the Veterans Administration. Over 60 peaceful activists were arrested, some violently.

MAKING CONTACT Sun 5-5:30 pm

Mothers, Markets, and Migration: How South Korea Became a Major Source for International Adoptions (Encore)

In this week’s episode, we take a look at how over six decades after the Korean War, South Korea processed the most international adoptions in history and how the demand for a “domestic supply of (adoptable) infants” may be playing a role in increasing threats to autonomy over pregnancy in the US. Featuring: Independent Producer and Founder of Rowhome Productions, Alex Lewis Producer, Schuyler Swenson Registered…

CA Lawmakers Consider Making End of Life Options Act Permanent

In 2023, more than 12-hundred terminally ill Californians obtained prescriptions for medical aid in dying and 69 percent took the medication.

The State Assembly is considering a bill to make permanent the law that authorizes medical aid in dying. The measure was already passed by the state senate in May. Comments from Dan Diaz, widower of well-known patient Brittany Maynard and an advocate for the bill, and Leslie Chinchilla), California state manager, Compassion & Choices Action Network.

California’s law legalizing medical aid in dying could be made permanent if lawmakers approve a bill currently before the State Assembly. Senate Bill 403 would eliminate the sunset clause in the 2015 End of Life Options Act. The law allows mentally capable, terminally ill patients with less than six months to live to get a prescription to end their life. Advocate Dan Diaz says his wife, Brittany Maynard, moved Oregon in 2014 to make use of the state’s Death With Dignity Act.

The End of Life Options Act is currently set to expire in five years. Medical aid in dying is legal in 11 states plus Washington D-C, but California is the only jurisdiction with a sunset provision.

— California News Service, A Bureau of the Public News Service

CUSTOM TAYLORED with TIM TAYLOR Sun 11am-Noon

Custom Taylored is a chronological journey of the popular music that influenced rock and roll. Today’s show is part of a subseries on the music that led to post war urban blues. Featured are some acoustic blues, some early rhythm and blues, and some classic jazz. All of the songs in the episode were first recorded or released in 1940. You’ll hear Big Joe Williams, Lil Green and The Ink Spots, among others.

TALK OF THE TOWN with Mike Aguirre Fri 3pm

DAVID LOY: THE FIRST AMENDMENT–FREEDOM OF SPEECH

TODAY’S show is a reprise of a conversation Mike had with David Loy, Legal Director of the First Amendment Coalition.

David became the First Amendment Coalition’s legal director in 2022. David is an experienced free speech and open government litigator. He has defended the First Amendment rights of reporters, photographers, bloggers, students, teachers, activists, protesters, musicians, Marines, and motorcycle club members. He has fought for public disclosure and governmental transparency for over 20 years.

Before joining FAC, David served as legal director of the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties for almost 16 years. He also worked as a staff attorney with the Office of the Appellate Defender in New York City, a public defender in Spokane, Washington, and a staff attorney with the Center for Justice in Spokane.

He received his A.B. in History and Chinese Language from Brown University, where he was photo editor of the Brown Daily Herald. After college, he worked for a law firm in San Francisco, taught English in China, and served as the legal assistant for a Chicago legal services office. He graduated from Northwestern University School of Law in 1994 and clerked for Judge Dolores K. Sloviter of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

David is an active member of the California and New York bars, with inactive status in Washington and Illinois. He has served on the Southern District of California lawyer representative committee and the boards of California Appellate Defense Counsel and American Constitution Society, San Diego Lawyer Chapter.

https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/

EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE with Editor and Investigative Journalist Miriam Raftery Fri 5pm, Sat 8am, Monday 5pm, Tues 8am

About East County Magazine. Our mission is to provide in-depth news, views and events coverage for the inland areas in San Diego County, reflecting the broad diversity of people and issues in our region, particularly those under-represented in other media. As nonprofit media, we reflect the public interest—not special interests, with a strong commitment to covering social justice issues,  diverse and mulicultural voices,community concerns, environmental/land use issues, and nonpartisan political  stories in our region’s urban, rural, mountain and desert communities. We also celebrate our region’s attractions and rich cultural heritage, with special sites such as Best of East County, Tribal Beat, People Power, Refugee Voices, Arts and Music, and more.  

East County Magazine also founded and operates East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts, keeping people safe and informed throughout San Diego County via e-mail and Twitter alerts. In addition we produce the East County Magazine radio show on KNSJ 89.1 FM. 

Editor and Founder Miriam Raftery has over 35 years experience as a journalist and editor.  She has won more than 400 major journalism awards, including the American Society of Journalists & Authors’ national Arlene Award for community journalism and San Diego Press Club’s Best of Show award prior to founding ECM.

She has covered major news stories including the California wildfires, Congressional and presidential elections, and Hurricane Katrina, as well as topics ranging from politics and election integrity to health, nutrition, homes and gardens.  

A former columnist and freelance writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, she has also worked as an editor of a national nutrition journal and a literary magazine as well as senior national investigative reporter for RawStory.com. Her works have appeared in many national and regional publications, from Woman’s Day to Arizona Highways, as well as in many local community newspapers and magazines. An East County native, she takes pride in exploring East County’s back roads and byways, leaving no stone unturned in the quest for news and feature stories.

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org