Current Size: 100%
Facts: Caregiving in the United States
Informal Caregivers in the United States
Caregivers in the United States provide long-term care and support for loved ones who have been incapacitated by accidents, illness, or
- More than 44 million individuals in the US serve as informal and unpaid caregivers. The majority of these individuals - 80% of them - are caring for someone who is related to them (NAC & AARP, 2004).
- The efforts of informal and family caregivers amount to $375 billion in 2007 (AARP 2008).
Dementia Caregivers in the United States
- It is estimated that 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease (Alzheimer's Association, 2009). The majority (70%) of these individuals live at home where they receive 75% of their care from informal caregivers (FCA, 2009).
- Caregivers for persons with dementia often bear a heavier burden as compared to other caregivers. In fact, 25% of these caregivers provide at least 40 hours a week of care for their loved one (AA & NAC, 2004).
- Furthermore, nearly 33% of dementia caregivers are also caring for children under the age of 18 in their household (AA & NAC, 2004).
Given the size of the task that they face, it may not be a surprise that these caregivers are more likely than others to pursue supportive community services and care options than do other caregivers. However, still only 56% of dementia caregivers use these supportive options (AA & NAC, 2004).
Health Care Reform and Caregivers
Health Care Reform will bring lots of changes to the services provided for home and community-based care. Among these are:
- An option in Medicaid to provide community-based attendant supports to those with disabilities.
- Provisions for financial support for community and home-based services so that people may move out of institutional care.
- Protections against spousal impoverishment for those receiving Medicaid home and community-based services .
Alzheimer's Association. 2009 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Available at: http://www.alz.org/national/documents/report_alzfactsfigures2009.pdf. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
Family Caregiver Alliance. 2009 National Policy Statement. Available at: http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2279. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. Caregiving in the U.S. 2004. Available at: http://www.caregiving.org/data/04finalreport.pdf. Retrieved March 26, 2009.
AARP Public Policy Institute. Valuing the Invaluable: The Economic Value of Family Caregiving, 2008 Update. Insight on the Issues. 2008. Available at http://www.caregiving.org/data/04finalreport.pdf. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
Family Caregiver Alliance. (2010). Health Care Reform and Family Caregivers. Available at http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=2397. Retrived July 19, 2010.
