Aim: To calculate the formal cost of social care for people with Alzheimer disease according to the implementation of the dependency law in Gipuzkoa (Spain).
Method: A retrospective observational study was carried out of the database of the Dependency Care Services of Gipuzkoa from 2007 to 2012, using a prevalence-based bottom-up approach.
Results: The average annual formal cost per person was €11,730. The annual population cost was €34.7 million, representing 19% of the annual expenditure corresponding to the dependency law and 29% of the total cost of Alzheimer disease.
Conclusions: Despite the implementation of the new law, most of the burden of the disease is bourne by the family.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Costes; Costs; Dependencia; Dependency; Enfermedad de Alzheimer; Servicios sociales; Social services.
Copyright © 2014 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.