Caregiving

Smart Aging: Healthy Futures

Caregiving

Are you caring for an aging spouse, parent, relative, or friend? If not, at some point in your life you will likely be involved in some form of caregiving. This role may be experienced as a full-time, part-time or distance caregiver either employed or retired from the workforce. Caring for a loved one is a rewarding experience; however, managing the demands emotionally and physically requires taking charge of your health and accepting help from others.

The Need

Thirty-seven billion hours of informal or unpaid care each year is provided to adult family members or friends with chronic diseases by approximately 44 million American family caregivers.
In the year 2030, all baby boomers will reach at least 65 and the population in this age group is projected to reach 71 million.
Between 2000 and 2030, the need for caregivers for this population will have increased by 101% at the rate of 2.3% per year. Over this same thirty years, the number of caregivers available to provide care is expected to increase by only 25%.
Estimates show that 12-25% of employees nationwide serve as family caregivers.

Assistance

Caring for people in their senior years requires knowledge in many areas and assistance to successfully navigate the system for support services. Below are websites that can provide valuable information about the art of caregiving. The websites are not meant to be all inclusive, but a starting point offering educational tools, expert advice, videos, support group programs, and local services.

AARP
www.aarp.org

AgingCare.com
www.agingcare.com

Aging with Dignity
www.agingwithdignity.org

AGIS Network
www.agis.com

Caring Connections
www.caringinfo.org

Eldercare Locater
www.eldercare.gov

eXtension
www.extension.org/family%20caregiving

Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA)
www.caregiver.org

Family Caregiving…It’s not all up to you
www.familycaregiving101.org

Home Instead – 40/70 Rule
www.4070talk.com

Hospice Directory
hospicedirectory.org

Ask Medicare
www.medicare.gov/caregivers
(Information for caregivers)

National Alliance for Caregiving
www.caregiving.org