The Troubling Link Between Dementia and Financial Decline

The author shares her personal experience of navigating her father's dementia care and the financial challenges they face as a middle-class family. Medicare classifies dementia care as "custodial" or "companionship," leaving families to bear the burden of the high costs. The author suggests that neurologists should discuss financial planning at the onset of the disease, policymakers should reconsider Medicare's support for dementia patients, and middle-class families should plan for aging and long-term care. The author highlights the emotional toll of dealing with the disease while also worrying about financial stability, calling for a change in the healthcare system.