Caring for the Caregivers: Addressing the Health, Financial, and Systemic Challenges of Alzheimer’s Disease

Unpaid caregivers (spouses and adult children) provide the majority of care to Americans with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive condition that demands intensive, long-term support. This review examines the challenges confronting these caregivers and evaluates emerging policy solutions to address the growing crisis. It identifies three primary areas of concern: significant physical and mental health deterioration among unpaid caregivers, substantial financial burdens that disproportionately affect lower-income households, and limited access to reliable and affordable institutional services. It then assesses several recent policy proposals, including a new care delivery and payment model, a tax credit for unpaid caregivers, and regulatory measures aimed at private equity-owned nursing homes. The review concludes that although these initiatives mark meaningful progress, they fall short of alleviating the severe burdens faced by Alzheimer’s caregivers.