Caregiving costs hit $400k as mom's dementia drains family finances

In this firsthand account, Alison George, 52, explains how caring for her late-stage Alzheimer’s mother has cost nearly $400,000 in long-term care since 2021, after converting a $45,000 guest house on their Raleigh, NC property. With about $5,500 monthly private-pay costs and a $4,000 monthly income, the family foresees roughly 24–30 more months before funds are exhausted, highlighting the emotional toll of caregiving and the challenge of navigating Medicaid while loved ones are treated as a dollar amount.