Key Takeaways:
- Family caregiving is a growing issue in the US, with an estimated 63 million Americans currently caring for elderly or chronically ill adults.
- The cost of caregiving can be catastrophic, with family caregivers spending an average of $7,242 in out-of-pocket expenses every year.
- There is a growing consensus that the government needs to do more to support family caregivers, with 79% of Republicans and 89% of Democrats agreeing that the government should provide more help.
- State governments are taking the lead in implementing policies to support caregivers, such as tax breaks, paid family leave, and long-term care insurance programs.
- Advocates are pushing for a comprehensive national caregiver support system, including a paid family and medical leave law and expanding Medicare to pay for long-term care.
Introduction to the Issue of Family Caregiving
The issue of family caregiving has become a pressing concern in the US, with an estimated 63 million Americans currently caring for elderly or chronically ill adults. The cost of caregiving can be catastrophic, with family caregivers spending an average of $7,242 in out-of-pocket expenses every year. The story of US Senator Andy Kim, who recently gave a speech on the Senate floor about his own experience with family caregiving, highlights the difficulties that many families face in providing care for their loved ones. Kim’s speech was a call to action, asking why it is so hard to provide care in this country and why it is so insanely complicated.
The Growing Need for Caregiving Support
The number of family caregivers for adults has already doubled since 2014, and older people are now the nation’s fastest-growing age group. Half of them will eventually need daily help with even simple tasks like cooking, getting dressed, and keeping house. Some will need much more extensive care. The task of providing this care will mostly fall to family and friends, because most people cannot afford to pay someone else to do it. Forty hours a week of paid caregiving help runs about $71,000 a year, and the average annual nursing home bill is $110,000. Medicare covers almost none of it, leaving family caregivers to bear the burden of these costs.
State-Level Solutions
While the federal government has not yet taken significant action to address the issue of family caregiving, state governments are taking the lead in implementing policies to support caregivers. For example, Oklahoma and Nebraska were the first states to adopt tax credits for family caregivers, and since then, several other states have followed suit. Some states are also subsidizing respite care, which allows family caregivers to take a break and recharge. Additionally, many states are modifying employment laws to help working caregivers manage their responsibilities, such as requiring employers to offer paid family leave.
The Care Can’t Wait Coalition
The Care Can’t Wait coalition is a broad coalition of labor, aging, and disability interests that is pushing to put family caregiving on the national agenda. The coalition’s goals include a comprehensive paid family and medical leave law that would cover all working caregivers, as well as expanding Medicare to pay for long-term care. While these goals may seem ambitious, advocates believe that the sheer number of struggling family caregivers and the value of their work will force change, especially as older and disabled populations continue to grow.
A New Care Movement
There are already subtle changes in the way that policymakers and the public think about family caregiving. When advocates meet with legislators, they no longer need to explain what family caregiving is and why it matters. Most often, someone on the staff has personal experience with it themselves. This shift in awareness and understanding is a crucial step towards creating a new care movement, one that recognizes the importance of family caregiving and provides the support that caregivers need. As Kat McGowan, a freelance writer focused on caregiving, notes, "People are connecting with the issue, and sharing their own stories. That’s a transformation from where we started this work."
Conclusion
In conclusion, the issue of family caregiving is a pressing concern that requires immediate attention and action. While the federal government has not yet taken significant action, state governments are taking the lead in implementing policies to support caregivers. The Care Can’t Wait coalition is pushing for a comprehensive national caregiver support system, and there are already subtle changes in the way that policymakers and the public think about family caregiving. As the number of family caregivers continues to grow, it is essential that we create a new care movement that recognizes the importance of family caregiving and provides the support that caregivers need.