The number of older adults who’ll need long-term care will triple between 2010 and 2050, mainly due to dementia, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), a federation of 79 worldwide Alzheimer associations.

Most of those who’ll need this care will be living with dementia, the group says in its annual report, which analyzes the extent of dementia in the world population and the status of long-term care that is or should be available. 80% of elder adults currently living in nursing homes are suffering from dementia, ADI says.

Written by Martin Prince from King’s College in London and other researchers, the ADI report calls for 10-fold increase in research on dementia prevention, treatment and care. The report puts the current global cost of dementia care at more than $600 billion.

The report also stresses the need for, among other things, proper training and adequate compensation for front-line caregivers and support for and acknowledgement of family caregivers to help many of the elderly to live safely at home.

"As the world population ages, the traditional system of 'informal' care by family, friends, and community will require much greater support," says ADI.

For more information about long-term home health care options, see Home Health Line.