Dementia: Human Costs of Misdiagnosis

Three-part series addresses the misconceptions regarding dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Part 2

We, as a caring society, must abandon the stereotype that older people become senile. Because this misconception has been long-standing, this process will take years to accomplish. Thus, it not only affects our current elderly population, but will affect our younger generation in years to come, if we continue our current course. This process is costly both financially and in terms of human lives. For example, if just one person could have their so called “dementia” treated and reversed, it could save our society $70,000 per year in nursing home costs.

Currently, 1.6 million people reside in nursing homes and almost one million in assisted living facilities. The annual average costs of nursing home and assisted living beds are about $70,000 and $24,000 per year respectively. If 10%, which I believe is a low estimate, of these persons have been misdiagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia, and, as a result, are living in such places, then we could save about $13.6 billion per year. The key would be to identify and treat these people so that they would not be disabled to the point where they require these facilities.

Let us take a look at the human cost. If you were told that your family member’s dementia had a 10% chance of being reversed and even cured, would you pursue the evaluation? I am sure most of us would jump at this offer. I cannot tell you how many times physicians have heard the lament that sons or daughters wish they could have had that one more opportunity to have their parents enjoy their grandchildren or to take them on that special vacation. Such an intervention would provide quality years to this sizable group of elderly persons.

Part three of the series will address ways to help destroy the myth of old age and dementia.