March 28, 2024
The number of people living with Alzheimer’s dementia is growing, according to data recently reported by the Alzheimer's Association, including statistics for New York State.
Nearly 7 million people aged 65 and older in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer's, with the cost of care for these individuals projected to reach $360 billion – a $15 billion increase from a year ago.
According to New York State data shared by the Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters:
- More than 426,500 New Yorkers aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s.
- More than 12.7% of adults aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s.
- New York is second among the five states with the highest projected prevalence of Alzheimer’s: Maryland (12.9%), New York (12.7%), Florida (12.5%), Mississippi (12.5%), and Louisiana (12.4%).
Within New York, the five counties with the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease are:
- Bronx (16.6%)
- Kings/Brooklyn (15%)
- New York/Manhattan (14%)
- Queens (137%)
- Westchester (13.5%)
Caregiving
The burden on Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers is significant.
- In New York, 543,000 caregivers provided 879 million hours of unpaid care, the report found, while 70% of dementia caregivers report that coordinating care is stressful.
Overall Costs
The costs of health care and long-term care for individuals with Alzheimer’s or other dementias are substantial and dementia is one of the costliest conditions to society.
- In 2024, the total cost of caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in New York is valued at $18.9 billion.
- Alzheimer’s has a significant impact on Medicare and Medicaid. The average Medicaid costs for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is $5.453 billion in New York. From 2020-2025, in New York, the projected change in Medicaid Costs is 15.6%.
Care Shortages
The shortage of dementia care specialists is also a barrier to a timely and accurate diagnosis, and a lack of diagnosis means a delay in treatments, care delivery and supportive services. In New York, a 44% increase in the number of geriatricians is needed to meet the 2050 demand.
Getting Help
The Alzheimer’s Association provides information, programs and services free to help families living with Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers can find more information by visiting www.alz.org or by calling the free 24-hour Helpline at 1-800-272-3900.
Sharing this Data
The Coalition of New York State Alzheimer's Association Chapters offers the following resources that can be shared on social media and other digital communications: