BY ELLE BENT
Family members taking care of an elderly, sick or disabled loved one often face financial, social and emotional challenges, according to a March report from the American Association of Retired Persons, a nonprofit focused on the needs of Americans over the age of 50. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 23% of Texans age 45 or older provide care to a family member or friend. “Family caregivers are the backbone of long-term care in this country,” said Susan Reinhard, senior vice president of AARP Public Policy Institute, in a news release. “The care they provide is invaluable to those receiving it.” Per the report from AARP, 60% of caregivers work either a part-time or full-time job, with 40% citing emotional stress from juggling both responsibilities. The options In Austin, caregivers can find resources including education, support groups and respite care from organizations such as AGE of Central Texas and centers such as Town Square in Northwest Austin. Town Square is modeled after a 1950s town and provides day care to seniors. Respite care gives seniors a place to spend the day and allows care- givers time to work or rest, center Director Elisa Reodica said. “Instead of hiring private in-home care, which can be quite expensive, they can bring their loved ones here, and we can watch them, be with them Family caregivers in need of support, report finds
Caregiving statistics A variety of Texans find themselves taking care of a friend or family member who is elderly or disabled even if they are employed full-time, according to AARP.
Nearly 1 in 5 adults in Texas provide regular assistance to an adult friend or family member who is aging, experiencing health problems or has a disability.
of caregivers in Texas are women 59%
of Texans are caregivers 10%
of caregivers in the United States cite emotional stress of juggling caregiving with paid work as their biggest challenge 40%
of caregivers in the United States work a full-time or part-time job 60%
SOURCE: AARP PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
health conditions is $600 billion, per the AARP report. By 2034, AARP predicts that adults aged 65 and older will outnumber children under the age of 18, and the availability of family caregivers is projected to shrink. What’s next The report highlighted potential solutions to provide support to unpaid caregivers, including: • Strengthening paid family and sick leave • Expanding respite care services • Offering tax credits or other programs to offset the costs of family caregiving • Making training and education available to caregivers that connects them to services For additional online resources, visit www.hhs.texas.gov or www.aarp.org/caregiving.
for eight hours a day, Monday through Friday,” Reodica said. The cost Reodica says that Town Square, or respite care in general, can be a more affordable alternative to in-home care or senior living facilities. An in-home caregiver can cost about $25 to $35 an hour, Reodica said. The cost of Town Square begins at about $18 an hour. Per the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, average monthly cost for care in Austin ranges from $3,500-$5,345. The city’s independent and assisted living costs are up to $2,000 higher than other metros such as Dallas and Houston, which top out at $4,250. In 2021, the estimated economic value of care that Americans gave to family members with
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