The extra costs associated with a cognitive impairment: Estimates from 15 OECD countries

Abstract

Background The objective of this study is to estimate the additional income required of a household containing an older adult member living with a cognitive impairment (CI) consistent with dementia (CID). Methods Secondary analyses were provided of data from the Survey of Health Aging and Retirement in Europe incorporating data of adults’ age 65 years old and older across 15 OECD countries in 2013. We also analyzed longitudinal data of a smaller subset of respondents interviewed in a previous survey wave in 2011. We used OLS regression and the Standard of Living (SOL) approach to estimating the extra costs of disability. Results Households containing a member experiencing a CID are estimated to require 48% more income to maintain their SOL compared to similar households not including an adult with CID. Those with CI without dementia are estimated to have lower costs (14%). Those with longer-term CID are estimated to incur greater costs than those with a more recent onset of a CI. The extra costs are estimated to be lower in countries with more formalized public long-term care arrangements. We further identified out of pocket costs for home care services as a likely expenditure item driving these cost estimates. Conclusions Results suggest that caring for a person living with dementia can lead to considerable expenses. These additional direct costs associated with dementia provide insights for households in anticipating the risks of financial insecurity as they grow older. Future research is needed to identify the consumption items driving these estimates.

The economic burden of the post-COVID-19 condition: Underestimated long-term consequences of neuropsychological deficits

“…The condition has also raised interest among epidemiologists, but its potential burdens on society, the economy, and the healthcare system have yet to be fully quantified. Recently, a new form of interdisciplinary research has emerged aimed at quantifying the economic burden of cognitive disorders associated with several neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and traumatic brain injury [ 7 , 8 ]. Studies have highlighted a range of dissociated effects dependant on the nature of the cognitive disorders.…”

“…This suggests the primordial role of neuropsychological assessment in the evaluation and detection of risk factors that can lead to amplified direct and indirect costs and that could potentially be mitigated by cognitive rehabilitation interventions. Moreover, a recent European study showed that families with cognitive impairment require a 48% higher household income to achieve a normal living standard [ 8 ]. Therefore, the economic burden would not only be limited to direct and indirect costs for the patient, but also to their closer family circle, thus exacarbating the economic toxicity on society and highlighting the significant impact that cognitive disorders have on daily life.…”

The Extra Costs Associated With Living With a Disability in the United States

“…Our article thus contributes to the literature in the following ways. First, we adopt an internationally established approach to estimating the extra costs of disability to provide estimates for the United States (Cullinan et al, 2011; Loyalka et al, 2014; Morris et al, 2021; Morris & Zaidi, 2020; Palmer et al, 2016; Van Minh et al, 2015; Zaidi & Burchardt, 2005).…”