OP-ED

Uncompenstated cost of caregivers is whopping $478 billion

By HERB WEISS
Posted 12/3/19

By HERB WEISS Approximately 41million unpaid family caregivers provided an estimated 34 billion hours of care in 2017 - worth a whopping $470 billion - to their parents, spouses, partners, and friends, according to the latest report in AARP's Valuing the

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OP-ED

Uncompenstated cost of caregivers is whopping $478 billion

Posted

Approximately 41million unpaid family caregivers provided an estimated 34 billion hours of care in 2017 – worth a whopping $470 billion – to their parents, spouses, partners, and friends, according to the latest report in AARP's Valuing the Invaluable series.

The 2019 estimated value of family caregiving is based on 41 million caregivers providing an average of 16 hours of care per week, at an average value of $13.81 per hour. Previous AARP Public Policy reports were released in2006, 2008, 2011 and 2015.

"It's encouraging to see greater recognition of the emotional, physical and financial struggles that caregivers face," said Susan Reinhard, senior vice president, AARP Public Policy Institute, in an April 14th statement announcing the release of the 32-page report. "But the demands on family caregivers are not just a family issue and we must continue to push for meaningful support and solutions," says Reinhard.

“Every caregiver, as well as their families, know the value of their efforts," said AARP Rhode Island State Director Kathleen Connell. "In Rhode Island, the estimated total value of 114 million hours of work by the state's 136,000 caregivers is $1.8 billion. The aggregate is astounding, making a clear case for supporting this vital commitment made by family and loved ones."

"These numbers inspire our members who spend many hours at the State House as AARP Rhode Island advocacy volunteers," Connell added. "They have helped pass key legislation – the CARE Act, paid caregiver leaves and many other key bills – that have given caregivers resources and opportunities to make their task less daunting. Caregivers are truly invaluable," she says. Putting a Spotlight on the Nation's Caregivers AARP's report notes that the estimated $470 billion equates to about $1,450 for every person in the United States (325 million people in 2017). Its economic impact is more than all out-of-pocket spending on US health care in 2017 ($366 billion). Uncompensated care provided by caregivers is also three times as much as total Medicaid spending on long-term services (LTSS) and supports ($154 billion in2016) and even the total spending from all sources of paid LTSS, including post-acute care ($366 billion in 2016). The AARP researchers say that the estimate of $470 billion in economic value of uncompensated care is consistent with nearly two decades of prior research studies, all of which found (like the current study) that the value of unpaid family care vastly exceeds the value of paid home care.

The AARP report, Valuing the Invaluable: 2019Update Charting a Path Forward, also explores the growing scope and complexity of caregiving, including an aging population, more family caregivers in the paid workforce, and the increasing amount of medical and nursing tasks entering the home. According to the AARP report, family caregivers, who provide day-to-day supports and services and manage complex care tasks, are becoming more diverse. While most family caregivers are women, about 40 percent are men who are providing more assistance than just driving to doctor's appointments and grocery stores or paying bills. Like all caregivers, they are assisting a parent, spouse or friend with bathing and dressing, pain management, managing medication, changing dressings, helping with incontinence and even preparing special diets. While a majority of baby boomers are providing caregiving services, a growing number of younger adults are now shouldering this responsibility, too. Nearly 1 in 4 (24 percent) are millennials (born between 1980 and 1996).

Despite their low salaries, the young adults are spending more of their salary on caregiving expenses than other generations. The researchers estimated that this spending in 2016 was about 27 percent of their income. About 60 percent of family caregivers are juggling a job and providing care, too. This will continue as aging baby boomers choose to remain in the labor force to bring additional income into their household. Workplace benefits for caregivers becomes even more important as they face economic and financial strain in their later years. For those employees who choose to leave their job to become a full-time caregiver, they risk both short-and long-term financial difficulties, say the researchers.

Finally, the researchers’ recommendations to better support family caregivers included developing a robust and comprehensive national strategy with the needs of an increasingly diverse caregiver population included; providing financial relief and expanding workplace policies; developing caregiver training programs; and expanding state and federal funding for respite programs. More Work Needs to Be Done The AARP report warns that the rising demand for caregivers with the graying of the nation's population, shrinking families will drastically reduce the supply. In 2010, there were 7.1 potential family caregivers for every person age 80 and over. By 2030, there may be only 4.1 potential caregivers for every person age 80 and over, they say. Although significant federal and state policy are already in place to assist the nation's caregivers, more work needs to be done, say the researchers. They call on Congress and state lawmakers to keep pace with the changing demographic, social trends and needs of the family caregiver. Resources and information on family caregiving, including AARP'sPrepare to Care Guides, are available at www.aarp.org/caregiving. Herb Weiss, LRI'12, is a Pawtucket writer covering aging, health care and medical issues. To purchase Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly, a collection of 79 of his weekly commentaries, go to herbweiss.com.

Comments

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  • Justanidiot

    it used to be called family. people did the right thing without hoping for a gold star because it is the right thing to do

    Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Report this

  • davebarry109

    You don't pay family for being family. The world has gone insane.

    Friday, December 6, 2019 Report this

  • patientman

    This is what love looks like. Love for one another. Love for their children. Love for society.

    http://weeklypacket.com/news/2019/oct/31/carl-and-susan-chase-pillars-of-local-arts-die-by/#.Xe0GQOhKjIU

    Sunday, December 8, 2019 Report this