A new profile has emerged on family caregivers in the U.S., and while middle-aged women still carry the lion’s share of responsibilities, a younger generation — those in the early stages of careers and raising young children — are increasingly taking on these volunteer duties.
According to “Caregiving in the U.S. 2015,” a joint research study between the National Alliance for Caregiving and the AARP, the typical family caregiver is likely to be a 49-year-old female caring for her 69-year-old mother who lives a short distance away.
But men are also pitching in and doing their part (representing 40 percent), and almost one in four family caregivers are millennials — ages 18-34 in this study.
Count Hillary W. Thomas as part of that younger generation. The 34-year-old program specialist-community outreach with AARP Georgia is a married working mom of a 2-year-old, yet when a stroke recently disabled her father, age 63, she immediately began helping her mother make caregiving decisions from a distance.
“My mother is strong and independent and didn’t want to access the help that was available,” said Thomas, who lives in Atlanta, a one-and-a-half hour’s drive from her parents. Thomas said she is constantly thinking of ways she can help and what responsibilities she can take over for them. The whole caregiving ordeal took her by surprise.
“People in my generation, we aren’t thinking about these things. This is not on our radar,” she said. “Luckily, I work for AARP and know what resources are available, but most people my age aren’t thinking about AARP.”
No matter the caregiver’s age, the problems they face are universal, says Dr. Lois J. Ricci, a gerontologist who serves on the AARP Georgia Executive Council. Ricci was keynote speaker for a recent AARP Georgia caregiving symposium.
According to the profile study, most family caregivers providing intensive care say they are under high emotional stress, and there’s also a financial strain. These caregivers say it’s difficult to find affordable services such as delivered meals, transportation or in-home health services for their loved ones.
Ricci said there is a real crisis of caregivers not knowing how to resolve problems by taking advantage of resources that are available. She said people are not educated about where they can go and seek help.
“People don’t know how to avail themselves of the resources. They don’t know what to ask, and they don’t know who to ask,” she said.
Also, when given information about where to go for help, they often don’t follow through, Ricci said.
Because these are families often navigating alone with no direction, logical decisions that need to be made get bogged down with emotions, says Jessica Gill, director of Cobb County Senior Services.
“Those emotions often get in the way of the right decision for a loved one, as well as take a toll on the health of the caregiver,” Gill said.
She recommends caregivers find a trusted friend, physician or support group to help make tough decisions. Gill also recommends caregivers take breaks and keep balance in their lives. Do one thing for yourself every day, if for nothing else but staying connected with your own life, she says.
AARP keeps updated information and caregiving help on its free Caregiving Resource Center website: aarp.org/home-family/caregiving. The state chapter also provides free caregiver workshops to any group wanting to host one. Those interested should contact Thomas at hthomas@aarp.org or 404-870-3794.
PROFILE OF THE ‘TYPICAL’ FAMILY CAREGIVER
A 49-year-old female caring for her 69-year-old mother, who lives within a short commute. The daughter, who also works at a job, spends almost 25 hours a week helping her mom with activities like bathing, dressing, housework and managing finances. The care will continue for about four years. The daughter’s annual household income is around $55,000. For the daughter, there could be a high emotional stress from the demands of caregiving.
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‘Typical’ family caregiver stats
60 percent female/40 percent male
34 percent work full time/25 percent work part time
82 percent live within 20 minutes of the person they care for
38 percent report high emotional stress from the demands of caregiving
Source: National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP Public Policy Institute
PROFILE OF THE ‘HIGHER HOUR’ FAMILY CAREGIVER
A 52-year-old female caring for a female relative, most likely her mom, who is living in the same household and has a long-term physical condition. The average age care recipient is 68.4. About half of these caregivers also work at a job, either full time or part time. The care is more intense, with an average of 62 hours a week spent helping with medical and nursing tasks. The average household income is $45,700. The family caretaker reports a high burden of care.
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‘Higher Hour’ family caregiver stats
32 percent of family caregivers fall into this category
50 percent are employed either full time or part time
88 percent report a high burden of care
84 percent say they could use more information or help on caregiving topics
The “higher hour” caregiver has provided care for an average of five years and expects to continue care for another five years.
Source: National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP Public Policy Institute
MORE ABOUT THE REPORT
The “Caregiving in the U.S. 2015” report is based on quantitative online interviews, conducted in 2014, of 1,248 family caregivers, ages 18 and older, for an individual of any age. Caregivers are defined as those who provide unpaid care to an adult or a child.
To view the full report: aarp.org/caregivingintheus/.
