Dementia Care Cost Calculator
Estimate the total cost of Alzheimer's and dementia care across disease stages. Project costs for in-home care, memory care facilities, medications, and family caregiver impacts over the full disease progression.
Disease Stage & Patient Info
Early stage: memory lapses, some confusion. Moderate: difficulty with daily tasks, behavioral changes. Severe: loss of communication, full dependence on caregivers.
In-Home & Day Care
Memory Care Facility
Medical & Medications
Family Caregiver & Financial
Dementia Care Financial Preparedness
You have moderate financial resources for dementia care, but may face shortfalls in later stages. Consider additional planning and insurance options.
Total Projected Cost
$1,046,372
Years Savings Cover
8 years
Annual Cost (Current Stage)
$68,600
Early stage costs
Total Projected Cost
$1,046,372
over 8 year progression
Monthly Budget Needed
$10,900
average monthly net cost
Years Savings Will Cover
8 years
fully covered
Costs by Disease Stage Over Time
How dementia care costs escalate as the disease progresses through stages
Cost Breakdown by Category
Where dementia care dollars are spent over the full disease progression
Total
$1,190,372
In-Home Care
19%$226,010/yr
Memory Care Facility
45%$532,533/yr
Adult Day Care
7%$87,508/yr
Medical & Medications
9%$111,298/yr
Caregiver Lost Income
19%$228,023/yr
Home Modifications
0%$5,000/yr
Cost Comparison: Home Care vs Assisted Living vs Memory Care
Average annual and total costs by care setting over the projection period
Year-by-Year Breakdown
Detailed projection of dementia care costs and savings impact by year
| Year | Age | Stage | Gross Cost | Insurance | Net Cost | Cumulative | Savings Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72 | Early | $68,600 | -$18,000 | $50,600 | $50,600 | $469,900 |
| 6 | 77 | Severe | $192,412 | -$18,000 | $174,412 | $670,468 | $196,458 |
| 8 | 79 | Severe | $210,605 | -$18,000 | $192,605 | $1,046,372 | $0 |
Personalized Insights
Actionable recommendations based on your numbers
Total projected dementia care cost: $1,046,372
Over the estimated 8-year disease progression from early stage, total net care costs after insurance are projected at $1,046,372. This includes in-home care, facility costs, medical expenses, and family caregiver opportunity costs.
Savings projected to cover full care timeline
Your current retirement savings and income are projected to cover dementia care costs through the full 8-year disease progression. Continue monitoring as costs may increase faster than projected.
Monthly care budget needed: $10,900
The average monthly net cost of care is $10,900, which represents 273% of monthly retirement income ($4,000). The shortfall must come from savings drawdown.
Costs will increase significantly over 2 remaining stage transitions
Dementia care costs typically double or triple as the disease progresses from early to severe stage. Memory care facilities in the severe stage ($7,500/month) become the largest expense. Plan for escalating costs every 2 years.
LTC insurance saves approximately $144,000 over the care period
Your long-term care insurance benefit of $1,500/month offsets a significant portion of care costs. Review your policy for benefit period limits, elimination periods, and inflation protection to ensure coverage lasts through all disease stages.
Family caregiving costs $115,200 in lost income over care period
The opportunity cost of family caregiving — at $1,200/month in lost income — adds substantially to the true cost of dementia care. This does not include the caregiver's own health costs from stress. Consider whether professional care for some hours is more cost-effective.
Medicaid planning should begin early in the diagnosis
Medicaid has a 5-year lookback period for asset transfers. If savings may be exhausted during the care period, consult an elder law attorney about Medicaid planning strategies including spousal protections, irrevocable trusts, and spend-down strategies. The asset threshold in your state is $2,000.
Home safety modifications can delay facility placement
The $5,000 investment in home safety modifications — locks, alarms, grab bars, and monitoring technology — can help keep the patient at home safely for longer, potentially saving $45,000-$90,000 by delaying memory care facility admission by 6-12 months.