Don't Be A Statistic When It Comes To Being A Caregiver

Don't be a statistic when it comes to being a caregiver.  Find a Caregiver Support Group TODAY!!  Click on the CARE Meeting tab above and find a meeting near you. Caregiving Population

More than 65 million people, 29% of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year and spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for their loved one. Caregiving in the United States; National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP; November 2009 The value of the services family caregivers provide for "free," when caring for older adults, is estimated to be $375 billion a year. That is almost twice as much as is actually spent on homecare and nursing home services combined ($158 billion). Evercare Survey of the Economic Downturn and Its Impact on Family Caregiving; National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare. March 2009 The typical family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman caring for her widowed 69-year-old mother who does not live with her. She is married and employed. Approximately 66% of family caregivers are women. More than 37% have children or grandchildren under 18 years old living with them. Caregiving in the United States; National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP. November 2009 1.4 million children ages 8 to 18 provide care for an adult relative; 72% are caring for a parent or grandparent; and 64% live in the same household as their care recipient. Fortunately, most are not the sole caregiver. National Alliance for Caregiving and the United Hospital Fund, Young Caregivers in the U.S., 2005. 20 hours per week is the average number of hours family caregivers spend caring for their loved ones while 13% of family caregivers are providing 40 hours of care a week or more. Caregiving in the United States; National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP. November 2009 Family caregivers are the foundation of long-term care nationwide exceeding Medicaid long-term care spending in all states. Evercare Survey of the Economic Downturn and Its Impact on Family Caregiving; National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare. March 2009 51% of care recipients live in their own home, 29% live with their family caregiver, and 4% live in nursing homes and assisted living. Caregiving in the United States; National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP. November 2009 36% of family caregivers care for a parent and 7 out of 10 caregivers are caring for loved ones over 50 years old. Caregiving in the United States; National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP. November 2009 14% of family caregivers care for a special needs child with an estimated 16.8 million caring for special needs children under 18 years old. 55% of these caregivers are caring for their own children. Caregiving in the United States; National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP. November 2009 78% of adults living in the community and in need of long-term care depend on family and friends as their only source of help. Thompson, L. Long-term care: support for family caregivers. 2004

Caregiving and Work

Six in 10 family caregivers are employed.

MetLife Study of Working Caregivers and Employer Health Costs; National Alliance for Caregiving and MetLife Mature Market Institute. February 2010

73% of family caregivers who care for someone over the age of 18 either work or have worked while providing care; 66% have had to make some adjustments to their work life, from reporting late to work to giving up work entirely; and 1 in 5 family caregivers have had to take a leave of absence.

Caregiving in the United States; National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP. November 2009

64% of working parents caring for a special needs child believe that caregiving responsibility has negatively impacted their work performance.

Care.com and National Family Caregivers Association: State of Care Index. 2009

American businesses can lose as much as $34 billion each year due to employees' need to care for loved ones 50 years of age and older.

MetLife Caregiving Cost Study: Productivity Losses to U.S. MetLife Mature Market Institute and National Alliance for Caregiving Business. July 2006

Caregivers caring for elderly loved ones cost employers 8% more in health care costs estimated to be worth $13.4 billion per year.

MetLife Study of Working Caregivers and Employer Health Costs; National Alliance for Caregiving and MetLife Mature Market Institute. February 2010

Over 65% of employers believe that health benefits improve employees' health. Sixty percent (60%) believe it increases moral and 39% believe it increases productivity.

Job-based Health Insurance in the Balance: Employer Views of Coverage in the Workplace. Collins, S.R. et al, The Commonwealth Fund, Commonwealth Fund Supplement to the 2003 National Organization Study. March 2004