July 22nd, 2025 by WCBC Radio

More than 120,000 Marylanders live with Alzheimer’s disease and families provide nearly 350 million hours of unpaid care each year. Research by the University of Washington found that medical costs for dementia care run around $53 billion each year and when unpaid help from family and friends is added, the cost is closer to $277 billion. Economist Amy Lastuka says boosting support for caregivers is essential…

   

“Any form of respite care, whether it’s in-home or investing in adult day centers where folks can go and get cognitive stimulation and get care for – and then their loved ones can still continue to work, or get done what they need to get done.”