Caregiving Stats from National Alliance for Cargiving & AARP 11/09

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Family caregivers are the foundation of long-term care nationwide
exceeding Medicaid long-term care spending in all states.

51% of care recipients live in their own home, 29% live with their family

caregiver, and 4% live in nursing homes and assisted living.

36% of family caregivers care for a parent and 7 out of 10 caregivers are

caring for loved ones over 50 years old.

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.

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

http://www.aginginfousa.com/

About Sue Salach

Sue has a Master's degree in Gerontology and has worked with the elderly and their families for over 30 years and is the Author of "Along Comes Grandpa", a caregiving resource guide, and the novel "If I Walked in Her Shoes". As an ElderCare Expert and Keynote Speaker, Sue employs her comprehensive experience and passion, to educate and promote self-care values to family caregivers and the community at large.

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