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.

NADER RADIO HOUR Sun 7pm

NETANYAHU UNLEASHED

With Guests Former Ambassador Chas Freeman and Christian Sorensen, Associate Director of the Eisenhower Media Network

To give us the benefit of his vast experience as a diplomat, former Ambassador Chas Freeman, helps us sort through the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Then Christian Sorenson, military analyst from the Eisenhower Media Network, explains just how the military industrial complex works.

AMBASSADOR CHAS FREEMAN is a retired career diplomat who has negotiated on behalf of the United States with over 100 foreign governments in East and South Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and both Western and Eastern Europe. Ambassador Freeman served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires in the American embassies at both Bangkok and Beijing. He was Director for Chinese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1979-1981.

The claim that suddenly Iran was on the verge of building a nuclear weapon has no basis in fact. And neither the CIA nor the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, agree with the statement of the President that Iran is about to build a bomb. — Ambassador Chas Freeman

The Israelis have a strange way of negotiating. They went into negotiations with Hamas, and they killed the top two people in charge of the negotiations. Then they go into negotiations – with U.S. auspices – with Iran. And in the middle of them, they kill the top military and scientific people in Iran. – Ambassador Chas Freeman

It’s as least as likely, maybe more likely, that there will be regime change in Jerusalem as there will be regime change in Tehran. – Ambassador Chas Freeman

CHRISTIAN SORENSEN is the Associate Director of the Eisenhower Media Network. He is an author and military affairs analyst covering the business of war. Mr. Sorenson is a former U.S. Air Force Arabic linguist, served at a variety of stateside posts and a tour in Qatar. He is the author of “Understanding the War Industry.” Since leaving the military, he has become the foremost expert studying military contracting and how corporations profit from war.

The U.S. taxpayer gives any year around three to $4 billion of U.S. tax dollars to Israel, and then Israel is supposed to turn around and use that money to purchase from the U.S. war industry. So it is incredibly profitable for the U.S. ruling class to do that because it doesn’t come out of the pockets of the U.S. ruling class because the U.S. ruling class doesn’t pay their fair share of taxes. – Christian Sorenson

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/