- (870) 364-5721
- 1101 Waterwell Rd. | Crossett, AR 71635
Across the U.S., nearly 13 million people provide unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. In Arkansas, more than 173,000 families are doing the same. This article breaks down the emotional, physical, and financial impact of caring for someone with dementia, and explains when the needs of your loved one may exceed what one family can provide alone.
| Emotional Impact | Rate Among Dementia Caregivers |
| High to very high emotional stress | 59% |
| Depression | ~40% |
| Stress related to care coordination | 70% |
| Social withdrawal | Frequently reported |
| Guilt or feelings of helplessness | Frequently reported |
Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3
The impact of caring for someone with dementia is emotionally different from other types of caregiving. The person you love changes over time. Families often grieve who their loved one used to be, even while that person is still alive.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 59% of dementia caregivers report feeling high to very high emotional stress. Dementia caregiving involves constant decision-making, managing difficult behaviors, and living with ongoing uncertainty. That level of pressure takes a serious toll.
Depression is one of the most documented effects. About 40% of dementia caregivers experience depression, compared to 5–17% of non-caregivers in the same age group. Anxiety, social withdrawal, and feelings of guilt are also common. The 2024 Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures report found that 70% of dementia caregivers say coordinating care is stressful.
| Physical Health Risk | Detail |
| Fair or poor self-reported health | Nearly 1 in 5 caregivers |
| Two or more chronic conditions | Nearly 2 in 5 caregivers |
| Compromised immune function | Up to 3 years post-caregiving |
| Sleep disruption | Widely reported |
| Delayed or skipped preventive care | Commonly reported |
The physical cost of caregiving is often overlooked. Many caregivers become so focused on their loved one’s needs that they neglect their own health. The CDC reports that nearly 1 in 5 caregivers report fair or poor health, and nearly 2 in 5 have at least two chronic conditions of their own.
Research cited by the Caregiver Action Network shows that dementia caregivers may have a weakened immune system for up to three years after their caregiving role ends. Missed doctor visits, poor sleep, and reduced physical activity are common patterns. Over time, these habits raise the risk of serious illness for the caregiver.
| Cost Category | Estimate |
| Estimated lifetime cost of care per person with dementia | $405,262 |
| Projected total U.S. dementia care costs in 2026 | $409 billion |
| Projected total U.S. dementia care costs by mid-century | Nearly $1 trillion |
| Value of unpaid family dementia caregiving (2024) | $413.5 billion |
| Average annual out-of-pocket cost for dementia caregivers | Nearly $9,000 |
| Employed caregivers who stopped working entirely | Nearly 1 in 5 |
| Employed caregivers who reduced hours | 4 in 10 |
| Caregivers taking on debt due to caregiving | 1 in 4 |
Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 | Source 4
Lost income represents one of the highest and underreported costs of dementia caregiving, and it compounds over time. When nearly 20% of employed caregivers leave the workforce entirely, the long-term financial impact includes reduced retirement savings, lost career advancement, and Social Security contribution gaps.
Out-of-pocket expenses are also typically higher for dementia caregivers than for other caregivers. The CDC reports that while the average annual out-of-pocket caregiving cost is $7,200 across all caregiving roles, that figure climbs to nearly $9,000 for those caring for someone with a memory condition.
The $413.5 billion value of unpaid dementia care represents an invisible subsidy. Families absorb these costs without compensation, without formal training, and often without a clear understanding of how long or how intensive the commitment will be.
| Metric | Arkansas Data |
| Arkansans age 65+ living with Alzheimer’s Disease | 60,400 |
| Arkansans providing unpaid dementia care | 175,000 |
| Medicaid cost of Alzheimer’s care in Arkansas (2025) | $514 million |
| Alzheimer’s Disease ranking as a cause of death in Arkansas | 6th leading cause |
| Increase in Alzheimer’s deaths in Arkansas (2000–2024) | 233.7% |
| Arkansas dementia caregivers living with their own chronic health conditions | More than 50% |
| Increase in geriatricians needed in Arkansas by 2050 | 61.7% |
Arkansas caregivers are managing their own health challenges alongside their loved ones’. More than half of the 175,000 dementia caregivers in Arkansas live with chronic health conditions of their own, making the sustained physical and emotional demands of caregiving especially difficult to maintain safely over time.
Additionally, Alzheimer’s deaths in Arkansas have increased significantly. A 233.7% rise since 2000 reflects both an aging population and limited early-intervention resources across much of the state.
Compounding caregiving challenges, the shortage of specialized providers in Arkansas will intensify. A projected 61.7% gap in geriatrician supply by 2050, combined with rising dementia prevalence, means that community-based memory care facilities in areas like Crossett will carry an increasingly critical role in meeting local care needs.
| Dementia Stage | Key Characteristics | Level of Care Required | Average Weekly Hours |
| Early Stage | Mild memory lapses, misplacing items, repeating questions | Reminders, check-ins, and transportation help | 10–20 hours |
| Middle Stage | Increased confusion, personality changes, and wandering risk | Supervision most of the day, personal care assistance | 30–47 hours |
| Late Stage | Loss of speech, inability to move independently, and infection risk | 24/7 care and assistance, full personal care, and medical management | 47+ hours |
Caring for someone with dementia often becomes more difficult over time, leading many families to seek specialized memory care support. As the disease advances through its stages, the care required shifts from oversight and reminders to full personal care and continuous supervision.
The transition from middle to late stage is often the turning point. Families who successfully manage early-stage dementia at home frequently find that middle-stage behavioral changes and safety concerns require more than they can safely provide without additional support.
Many caregivers are already providing full-time hours or more. Nearly 50 hours per week is more than a standard work week, and that care often comes on top of existing professional and family obligations.
Many families wait too long to seek outside help. Guilt, cost concerns, and the desire to handle it themselves are common reasons. But caregiver burnout can harm both the caregiver and the person in their care.
These are clear signs that additional support may be needed:
For families in Crossett, Ashley County, and the surrounding communities, Nightingale at Crossett provides a trusted next step when home care is no longer sufficient or viable. The facility’s dedicated memory care unit serves residents with all forms of cognitive decline.
Keycard-secured access prevents wandering, and 24/7 care and assistance are provided by staff trained specifically in memory care. Many team members have worked at Nightingale at Crossett for years, providing continuity of care for individuals with memory conditions.
For families not yet ready to transition to full-time care, Nightingale at Crossett also offers respite stays that provide caregivers with a much-needed break while their loved one receives professional support in a secure environment. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, HMO plans, and private pay.
If you’d like to learn more about the impact of caring for someone with dementia, or the memory care services at Nightingale at Crossett, you can reach out here.