Cost

"The estimated cost of formal and informal care for dementia worldwide is currently in excess of 600 billion dollars accounting for 1% of the world's gross domestic product."  Creating Excellence in Dementia Care

Amazing.  And this 171 page research paper does not say how or if that counts all of us unpaid caregivers, and the cost to us from lost salary.  And, with the world's aging population, this need is only going to increase.  The above research paper from Ireland outlines what it thinks governments must do.  Certainly, it is an issue that countries and governments and families must face, and it has been my experience that the support services available are woefully inadequate at this time.  If you are interested in reading the paper, which was forwarded to me by a friend, it is:
http://www.atlanticphilantropies.org