Unpaid Alzheimer’s caregivers used to qualify for Medicaid. Now, they may not

The AHS Index is a new way to look at data that illuminates a snapshot of our world today. It is intended to highlight health inequities and spark conversation, debate, and wonder.

Average number of years people have Alzheimer's, often without knowing, before the disease causes symptoms: 20

Percent of people between the ages of 75 and 85 who have Alzheimer's Dementia: 39

Projected increase in the number of Californians ages 75 to 84 between 2016 and 2030: 100%

Percent of neurons that can die in the brain of an Alzheimer's patient, compared to healthy brains: 75%

Percent of Alzheimer's patients who are women, pointing to a large gender disparity in who is affected by the disease: 66.67%

Number of Californians who are currently providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer's and other dementias: ~1.4 million

Estimated hours of unpaid labor worked by these caregivers each year: >1.8 Million

Number of unpaid caregiving hours that likely count toward the new work requirement for Medicaid eligibility, which was enshrined into law under H.R.1: 0

Percent of dementia caregivers who are women: 66.67%

Percent of dementia caregivers who are daughters caring for a parent: 33.33%

Year that research was published supporting the concept of "eldest daughter syndrome," in which eldest daughters are given more caretaking responsibilities for their families than other siblings: 2024