The Generalitat expands Alzheimer aid and raises income limits

The new income limits to access Alzheimer aid are €60,000 for individuals and €78,000 for joint applications. The Generalitat is also allocating over €4.2 million to grants for elderly care and neurodegenerative diseases.

According to ValènciaExtra.com, the Generalitat Valenciana has expanded aid for families affected by Alzheimer and has strengthened the network of resources that accompanies them. The Minister of Social Services and Justice, Nuria Martínez, inaugurated the X Autonomic Congress on Alzheimer of the Valencian Community, organised by the Valencian Federation of Associations of Family Members and Friends of People with Alzheimer (FEVAFA).

The minister argued that the care system must adapt to each person and not the other way around. She stated that neurodegenerative diseases require continuous adjustments to public resources and better coordination between social and health services. The meeting brought together around 300 participants, including professionals, researchers, organisations, family members, and caregivers, addressing topics from early detection to the use of artificial intelligence.

Martínez emphasised the autonomy of those affected. In her view, people with Alzheimer should be able to make decisions at every stage of the disease, and public support should accompany rather than replace. The figures discussed at the congress highlight the urgency: there are nearly one million people with Alzheimer in Spain, and projections raise that number to 1.62 million diagnosed by 2025, with over 2 million expected by 2035.

The burden primarily falls on households. According to the data cited by the minister, families bear 87% of the costs associated with the disease, and more than 80% of people with dementia are cared for at home. Therefore, the Generalitat allocates €3.7 million from the grant call for elderly programs, associations, and specialised care, along with over €500,000 from the IRPF call.

These funds finance cognitive stimulation, psychosocial support, family accompaniment, caregiver training, and actions to ensure that affected individuals remain in their environment for as long as possible. The regional network also includes home help, tele-assistance, day centres, specialised residential care, and respite spaces for caregivers.

The most visible change for families is in financial access. The Generalitat has raised the income thresholds for aid that compensates for expenses related to Alzheimer, acquired brain injury, and other complex chronic diseases. The new limits are €60,000 for individual income and €78,000 for joint income, compared to the previous €32,000 and €48,000. Benefits can reach €100 per month, or €150 for large or single-parent families.

Family associations, as highlighted by the FEVAFA congress, guide and support thousands of people throughout the Community, often before the public system itself. Those with a family member with Alzheimer in the Community can check the requirements and documentation at their municipal social services or at the Ministry of Social Services and Justice.