The growing number of aging Iowans means more are dealing with Alzheimerโ€™s disease. Some 64,000 in the state suffer from this disease at a time when Iowa is tightening its Medicaid system, which pays for long-term nursing home care for Alzheimerโ€™s patients.

Alan and Anne Scherer, of West Des Moines, Iowa, are among those dealing with Alzheimerโ€™s. Alan, 76, was diagnosed with Alzheimerโ€™s at age 68 and Anne takes care for her husband at home.

โ€œIt was not what I wanted to do,โ€ Anne said in an IowaWatch-HuffPost story about how sheโ€™s spending retirement. โ€œBut I became a caretaker, and thatโ€™s No. 1 โ€“ making sure every moment we live in has meaning for him.โ€

The Scherersโ€™ story, and those of others, are featured in this IowaWatch Connection podcast. An excerpt, with video:

MORE:
โ€˜Alzheimerโ€™s Tsunamiโ€™ Threatens Growing Dementia Care Demand As Medicaid Funding Gets Tighter
Care Aimed Specifically At Alzheimerโ€™s Patients At This Iowa Care Center
Listen To The Podcast: IowaWatch Visits With Insight On Business
Graphics: Alzheimerโ€™s Is A National Problem

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