Health

U.S. families face severe financial burdens from dementia care costs

Business Insider reports that high medical, housing, and specialized care expenses are forcing families to drain savings and sell assets.

Updated Sep 20, 2026 · 10:08 UTC1 reports

The short version

Families of dementia patients are depleting personal savings, retirement funds, and real estate assets to afford residential memory care and home modifications.[Business Insider]
Specialized memory care and 24/7 home supervision can reach thousands of dollars per month or exceed $250,000 annually.[Business Insider]
Expenses often extend beyond housing to include legal fees, aging-in-place technologies, and medical transportation.[Business Insider]

Lifetime costs associated with dementia care can surpass $400,000, according to industry estimates.[Business Insider]
According to internal data from A Place for Mom, round-the-clock home care at approximately $30 an hour can cost more than $250,000 annually.[Business Insider]
A joint report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving found that one in four family caregivers cared for an individual aged 50 or older with memory issues or dementia in 2025.[Business Insider]
Non-direct care costs associated with dementia management include home alterations, legal expenses for power of attorney, and aging-in-place technologies.[Business Insider]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.