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# Podcast: Living With The Threat Of Alzheimer's
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/podcast-living-with-the-threat-of-alzheimers/
- Published: 2017-10-16T16:05:39.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-11T02:39:40.000Z
- Description: The growing number of aging Iowans means more are dealing with Alzheimer'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 Alzheimer's patients.
- Author: Cindy Hadish
- Tags: Health, iowawatch, The Lead Story, aging in Iowa, Aging Resources of Central Iowa, aging, Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's disease in Iowa, dementia, elder care, Medicaid, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

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The growing number of aging Iowans means more are dealing with Alzheimer’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 Alzheimer’s patients.

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

“It was not what I wanted to do,” Anne said in [an IowaWatch-HuffPost story ](https://investigatemidwest.org/alzheimers-tsunami-threatens-growing-dementia-care-demand-as-medicaid-funding-gets-tighter/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)about how she’s spending retirement. “But I became a caretaker, and that’s No. 1 – making sure every moment we live in has meaning for him.”

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

##### [MORE:](https://investigatemidwest.org/the-growing-alzheimers-threat-in-iowa/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)

###### [‘Alzheimer’s Tsunami’ Threatens Growing Dementia Care Demand As Medicaid Funding Gets Tighter](https://investigatemidwest.org/alzheimers-tsunami-threatens-growing-dementia-care-demand-as-medicaid-funding-gets-tighter/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)

###### [Care Aimed Specifically At Alzheimer’s Patients At This Iowa Care Center](https://investigatemidwest.org/care-aimed-specifically-at-alzheimers-patients/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)

###### [Listen To The Podcast: IowaWatch Visits With Insight On Business](https://investigatemidwest.org/listen-to-the-podcast-iowawatch-visits-with-insight-on-business/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)

###### [Graphics: Alzheimer’s Is A National Problem](https://investigatemidwest.org/graphics-alzheimers-is-a-national-problem/?ref=investigatemidwest.org)

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