“Why the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s could more than double by 2050,” by Laura Santhanam, PBS News Hour

“Barring breakthroughs in treatment, the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to more than double by 2050, rising to 13.8 million Americans age 65 or older from 5.8 million today. That’s according to a new report from the Alzheimer’s Association released Tuesday. Here’s a closer look at why medical experts are expecting a spike in Alzheimer’s, what we know about associated health costs and what’s next for research and treatment. … Fainting and falling are the most frequent reasons people with Alzheimer’s receive medical treatment, and patients with dementia, including this disease, reported twice as many hospital stays as non-Alzheimer’s patients. But who pays the bill? Half of all the money paid for Alzheimer’s and dementia care comes from Medicare. Another 22 percent of costs are paid for out-of-pocket by patients, while Medicaid pays for an additional 17 percent.”

LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform):

We usually assume long-term care (mostly paid by Medicaid) is the biggest Alzheimer’s cost, but according to this, it’s Medicare (with no LTC benefit) due mainly to injuries from fainting and falling. Count me dubious, but this bears watching.