About 5.5 million Americans have dementia, and annual medical expenses for doctors, hospitalization, medicines, home health advisors and nursing homes require $ 53 billion. However, the cost of actual dementia treatment in the United States is much higher because it relies greatly on unpaid treatment of family and friends.
I am a researcher Study health spendingAnd my colleagues and I have begun to quantify the actual cost of dementia treatment not only in the health system, but also in the family and the community. After considering the value of unpaid treatment, we The total cost of dementia is 5 times increased $ 27.7 billion annually
The initial estimation of the cost of dementia by the state was also revealed dramatic costs by geography. In Columbia Special Zone, the average annual annual cost of dementia patients, including medical expenditure and unpaid treatment costs, is $ 37,000 and $ 61,000 in West Virginia.
In addition, despite the low cost of living, West Virginia and Kentucky found that the total cost is the highest in the poorest states in the cheapest three states. The biggest contribution to cost was unpaid nursing time.
Why is it important
Centership studies often include the financial value of unpaid treatment mentioned by economists. overhead. There is no money but no change in hand, but unpaid treatment indicates the use of the carer’s resources. Care is often rewarding, but it has a real effect on the welfare of the caregiver.
Recent work Our team found that 12%of all caregivers should reduce their working hours and stop working completely. The caregiver who remains in the workforce often misses or experienced the work due to the responsibility of the caregiver. Reduction of productivity While they work. Careers who do not work for salary often should give up. Other activitiesVolunteer work or leisure time.
Indirect treatment costs are especially important in the context of dementia treatment.
Direct medical expenses for dementia are relatively small because there are not many treatments. LEQEMBI, a new Alzheimer’s drug, was recently approved by the FDA small Of people who live with dementia. People who live with dementia are also needed. More time Caring more than the elderly without dementia. Many elderly adults eventually need to help everyday activities such as meals and baths, but people with dementia often need a certain or almost certain supervision.
Our research also raises an important question about why unstable time is too much geographically different. Some contributions here are worth considering.
First, the weekly weeks of unpaid care time, chronic diseases such as diabetes are high. People with dementia with other diseases require more treatment.
Similarly, the seriousness of dementia affects the amount of treatment you need. Dementia progresses from mild to moderate to severe and each stage is required. Gradually more treatment. The seriousness of dementia cases may vary depending on the condition of smoking, obesity and other dementia risk factors. Finally, the support of the government and the community, including the range of programs such as wheels, is very different for each week.
What is the following?
Researchers should continue to look at the cost of dementia treatment in the 19th era of Kovid. It is likely that the stress factor for caregivers has increased. In almost every state, there is a lack of family health workers and many states Experienced closure Last year of adult day center, auxiliary living facilities and family health institutions.
1/3 There was a list of waiting for the wheel in 2024. These tribes can be worsened in the midst of a massive reduction in the Trump administration’s federal program. The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently announced Dissolution Not only the administration for community life, local institutions on aging, and other services to maximize the independence of the non -profit organizations and the independence of the elderly.
Our research requires more work to cause these differences and some of the highest poverty rates in the United States and the highest poverty rate in the United States.
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