- 50% of all direct care in the United States is provided free by family members
- 24% by spouses
- 20% by daughters
- 6% by sons <-- me
- The average caregiver is 60 years old (I am 59)
- 63% of elderly needing long-term care rely exclusively on family and friends
- The average American woman can expect to spend 17 years caring for a child and 18 years caring for an elderly parent (WOW!)
- In 2000, one-fourth of all adults reported caring for a disabled family member in the prior year (WOW!)
5 years ago
5 comments:
Scary statistics, Terry. I'm not one for handouts from the government, but something needs to be in place for helping those of us who take on this task. From your stats, there are more of us than people realize.
I feel like you beat the odds with obtaining a mortgage - 9 years without a work history, utility bill or credit card make a lender very nervous. There's something very wrong with our banking and lending institutions when they don't know how to handle a case like this. I don't have any answers or I would be marching on Washington, but it is something we all need to think about.
Now just wait a second, spouses, daughters, sons? I don't see me in those statistics. Someone call the government!
Seriously, something really does need to be done in this country to help the caregivers. They save the government billions of dollars by caring for loved ones in their homes. You would think they should be able to get some help.
i'm amazed at those stats, too. yet, as i look around my small circle, there's only one other person i can name (that i know personally) who is helping take care of a parent.
oh and, lori.... it's called a $3000 tax deduction. whheeeee-- isn't uncle sam swell?!
just wanted to check in on you and hope you have a blessed day tomorrow with your family.
interesting post terry, thanks.
I have to wonder how many of these folks are doing without health insurance bennies so they can do the caregiving gig. I tell you, this is just not a one size fits all thing and the government needs to recognize that. Of course, they will when one of their own is affected but not until and maybe not even then. Sad stats but oh so true.
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