AARP Resources

Before the Diagnosis: Dementia’s Early Financial Toll

The impact of dementia is broad, affecting nearly one in ten adults in the United States over age 65, and a growing body of research points to the six- to eight-year period before a dementia diagnosis as being particularly hazardous for personal and family finances. During these years, affected individuals’ increased vulnerability and diminished financial management may be compounded by others’ lack of awareness of their cognitive decline. Recently, researchers have created a clearer picture of the scale of these early, often substantial, financial losses. Our new report reviews this relatively recent timeline of research into the topic and summarizes the insights from an April 2024 symposium on dementia’s early financial toll convened by AARP and the MIT AgeLab. It discusses the nature of the financial threats, the levers for change, and barriers to action, including the difficulties of talking about cognitive decline.

BankSafe Stories of Impact: One Family's Dementia Journey

Watch Linda and Elizabeth Baer share their mother's devastating story of financial exploitation and their call to action.

Transamerica Resources

A Field Guide to Dementia

Caregiving

Life and Longevity, Reimagined

Resources from The Hartford

At the Crossroads

The Calm Before the Storm