Dementia does not discriminate. It touches families of every background, every culture, every income level. Yet access to quality dementia care too often does depend on financial circumstance – and that is a reality we can no longer ignore.
The Human Cost of Inequity
Behind the statistics are real people – mothers, fathers, spouses, friends – who deserve dignity and comfort in the face of one of life’s most challenging diseases. But when care depends on what families can afford, we see heartbreaking consequences: delayed diagnoses, untreated symptoms, exhausted caregivers, and preventable crises that strip away independence far too soon.
Recent studies reveal the starkness of this divide. Research from Yale found that 86% of Americans living with dementia lack access to formal care services. Those with fewer financial resources are hit hardest. A large meta-analysis involving more than 1.4 million people confirmed that lower socioeconomic status not only increases the risk of developing dementia but also shortens the number of healthy years lived. Families most at risk are often the very ones least able to access support.
This is more than a healthcare issue – it’s a justice issue.
Why Equal Access Matters
Providing equitable dementia care is not charity; it is sound public health, good economics, and above all, a moral obligation.
- Better outcomes: Quality care prevents avoidable crises – falls, infections, hospitalizations – that rob people of independence.
- Lower costs: Investing in early interventions and community-based services saves far more than repeated emergency care.
- Stronger families and communities: Accessible care reduces caregiver burnout, preserves family stability, and fosters inclusion rather than isolation.
Most importantly, dementia care is about dignity. No diagnosis should reduce a person to a number on a financial ledger.
A Call to Collective Action
We need more than awareness – we need action. That means:
- Expanding coverage and funding so that care is accessible regardless of income or insurance.
- Supporting community-based programs that keep people safe and engaged in familiar surroundings.
- Ensuring a well-trained, supported caregiving workforce to meet growing demand.
- Removing the barriers of cost, bureaucracy, and inequity that prevent families from getting help when they need it most.
Standing Together
Every person living with dementia deserves care that protects their dignity, honors their life story, and eases the burden on their families – whether they are wealthy or struggling to make ends meet.
Dementia is not a disease of the privileged, nor should care be a privilege. It is a shared human challenge, and meeting it with compassion, equity, and courage is a test of who we are as a society.
It’s time to ensure quality dementia care is a right – not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it.