FACT SHEET

Living Alone with Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s imposes profound challenges for those living with the disease. Yet many of them live alone.

• Among all Americans with Alzheimer’s, about one million — more than 1 out of 7 — live alone.

• Of Americans aged 45 and older who report having worsening memory problems — a possible predictor of future dementia — 29.5% live alone.

• As many as half of those who live alone with Alzheimer’s disease do not have an identifiable caregiver.

For those who live alone, the challenges of Alzheimer’s are even more formidable — and place them at greater risk of falls, malnutrition, and wandering.

• Among those with dementia who live alone, without help from others: o One in 5 cannot get dressed o One in 5 cannot use the toilet o Nearly 1 in 3 cannot bathe o Over 38% cannot go outside o Nearly half cannot take their medicine o More than half cannot manage money

• Those who live alone are also typically more isolated from formal sources of support such as in-home care and transportation services that could help to reduce risk of harm or injury.

Among People with Dementia Who Live Alone, Percent Who Cannot Perform Specified Tasks on Their Own

People with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who live alone use more health care than those who live with someone else.

• In 2018, for every 1,000 seniors who had dementia and lived alone, there were 430 hospital stays compared with 394 hospital stays for seniors who had dementia and lived with others.

• Average per-person Medicare spending on those with dementia who live alone is 20% higher than for those with dementia who live in the community with someone else.