Fresno RN sees need to preserve medical-expense deduction for Alzheimer’s costs

In all the reporting on the tax plan now moving through Congress, I haven’t seen any mention of how eliminating the medical expense deduction would hurt the 27,000 people in Fresno and Tulare counties who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.

I am a registered nurse and widow of a veteran who died with Alzheimer’s disease. I also have a dear friend living with Alzheimer’s, who is paying $456 a day, 365 days a year, and says, “I hope I die soon, as I only have enough money for about another year of life.”

I work with many families who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s who use the deduction to offset the prohibitive costs they are paying for care.

Many Valley families rely on this tax deduction to offset the high costs associated with memory care required by those living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. More than 1 million California households claimed the deduction to offset almost $11 billion in medical expenses. I encourage Congressman Devin Nunes, California’s only conferee on the tax bill, to preserve the medical expense deduction.

This story was originally published December 11, 2017 at 2:50 PM with the headline "Fresno RN sees need to preserve medical-expense deduction for Alzheimer’s costs."