Women have changed. Boomers today are very different than female caregivers of previous generations. They are still the primary caregivers of their aging relatives but they also work, have children of their own and more of them are divorced and have fewer support structures. This results in very stressful situations for them and their families.
The International Longevity Center recently released “Caregiving in America: The Health Consequences on Boomer Women”. The brief provides statistics that show the negative health, financial and social consequences that women caregivers of the baby boom generation face now and will continue to face as the demand for family caregiving increases with the aging of the population.
The report states:
Reduced savings, reduced employment, earlier retirement, high out-of-pocket expenses of providing care, and increased likelihood of poverty are par for the course among many boomer women providing care to family members.
The stress and pressures resulting from caregiving may result in increased depression and significant health issues as well.
This is a very depressing picture and with the aging of America it is only going to continue to get worse. People who are caregiving need help. They are taking on more responsibilities as more and more aging people are staying in their homes and counting on their families for support. If the government were to pay for the services provided by our nation’s female caregivers, it would cost taxpayers between $207 billion and $263 billion annually.
What can be done? This report recommends 3 key approaches:
1. Families must do more to plan for their aging and the aging of their loved ones. Families must talk more with their aging relatives about their wishes and plans for the future. Researching options and having a plan agreed to by everyone can greatly reduce the stress from a health care crisis. As women are helping their loved ones through their aging issues, it is critical they also start to put a plan together for their own successful aging.
2. Employers should establish a clear dialogue with employees about their eldercare needs, and be committed to providing supportive resources that are needed. On-site eldercare programs, referral services, and subsidies for adult day care are among the possibilities. Alternative work arrangements are often very helpful to caregivers.
3. Policymakers at all levels of government need to do more to fund initiatives to help caregivers.
Boomer women have always had to lead the way to change our culture through the ‘60s and on. They will do so again as more and more begin to accept the caregiver role and see all the needs that exist that aren’t being met. Hopefully, we will see a change for the better for family caregivers. To read the complete study, please click here.
