Does expense for Depends for Dementia patient count as additional medical expenses?

[melbabachem]

Dementia patient is wheelchair bound and must use Depends.  We spend over $2000 annual on those supplies.  Is this part of Other Medical Expenses that can be deducted?

[KarenJ]

According to the IRS guidelines, expenses for incontinence supplies may be tax-deducible if you can show they are needed to relieve the effects of a specific disease.  The law is complex and general in guidance.

From IRS Publication 502:

Diaper Service You can't include in medical expenses the amount you pay for diapers or diaper services, unless they are needed to relieve the effects of a particular disease.

I would suggest that you request a statement from the patient's physician regarding the need to relieve the effects of a specific disease.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf

[fanfare]

obviously a disease is involved. We're not talking about a newborn infant here.