SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR MEXICAN OLDER ADULTS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA IN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES

Sep 29, 2026

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Dementia contributes substantially to disability and dependence, driving older adults’ need for supportive living in both Mexico and the United States. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias account for major DALYs, with about 1.6 million people affected in Mexico and at least 6 million in the U.S. Health systems often lack readiness for diagnosis, post-diagnosis care, and home support for individuals and family caregivers. Economic precariousness among Mexican-origin older adults is intensified by informal or gig work, limited access to employer benefits, and weak old-age safety nets, increasing reliance on family financial and in-kind help. The study examines the burden of informal support using linked MHAS and HRS data from Mex-Cog/HCAP 2015-16 and compares support for dementia with support for older adults without impairment.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background and problem

Study aim and data sources

Methods and comparison approach

Key outputs and recommendations

180 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.600 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR MEXICAN OLDER ADULTS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA IN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES Emma Aguila1, Mariana Lopez-Ortega2, Rosa Garcia-Chanes2, and Jacqueline Angel3, 1. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States, 2. National Institute of Geriatrics, Ciudad de Mexico, Estado de México, Mexico, 3. The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States Dementia is one of the most common causes of disability and dependence and is a frequent reason that older people require supportive living. In Mexico and the United States, Alzheimer’sand other dementias represent one of main cause of DALYS (disability-adjusted life-years) and it is estimated that there are approximately 1.6 million in Mexico and at least 6 million persons living with dementia in the U.S. However, the health systems are not prepared to adequately provide diagnosis, post-diagnosis care as well as care support at home for individuals living with dementia and their family caregivers. In addition, economic conditions of a large number of Mexican-origin older population are precarious given their working life in the informal sector or “gig economy”with limited access to employer provided benefits and social safety net policies in old age, relying primarily on family financial and in-kind support. The aim of this study is to investigate the burden of informal support in Mexico and the United States. We use the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data sets linked to their Cognitive Aging Ancillary Study (Mex-Cog and HCAP) 2015-16. This allows for a detailed characterization of support received by individuals living with dementia and compares it with the support available and received by older adults with no impairment. The results allow for specific recommendations for further support programs and activities that focus on areas of need and are currently not covered either by public or family support.

FAQs

Why is social and economic support critical for older adults with dementia in Mexico and the United States?

Dementia is a frequent cause of disability and dependence, and existing health systems are not adequately prepared to deliver diagnosis, post-diagnosis care, and home support for affected individuals and their family caregivers.

What main economic factors increase reliance on informal family support?

Many Mexican-origin older adults work in informal or gig sectors with limited access to employer benefits and older-age social safety nets, leading to greater dependence on family financial and in-kind support.

How does the study measure and compare informal support?

It uses linked Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) and Health and Retirement Study (HRS) datasets connected to Mex-Cog and HCAP (2015-16) to characterize support received by people living with dementia and compare it with support among older adults without impairment.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Eliana