According to a recent study undertaken in Spain by the Spanish Alliance of Neurodegenerative Diseases (Neuroalianza) and the Madrid Compluense University (UCM), Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) require a total expenditure of 32,372 million euros per year in Spain.
Main conclusions of the study involving 1,150,000 families:
- the direct costs per affected and their families amounted to 23,354 euros a year;
- if the impact on the national health system or insurance companies is taken into account, the figure rises to 32,372 million euros in Spain, considering also expenses deriving from rehabilitation and day centers;
- if the detailed indirect cost sets are seen , a cost is observed of 7,248 euros per person in 2015.
Among these indirect costs is, for example, the loss of income suffered by the caregiver, for undertaking caring tasks. Carers invest an average of 60 hours per week caring and supervising care, also assuming added costs as a result of the care and personal burnout, such as having sleep problems, anxiety, contracted muscles, etc., helping to explain why 60% of caregivers themselves take medicine or receive rehabilitation and physiotherapy care.
Find more in the original article of the Jano portal (Elsevier).
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 691001. This document reflects only the author's view and the Research Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains