Family Caregiving in an Aging America: A National Perspective 3 rd National Conference for Caregiving Coalitions March 18,2009 Lynn Friss Feinberg, MSW National Center on Caregiving Family Caregiver Alliance
Transcript
Slide 1
Family Caregiving in an Aging America: A National Perspective 3
rd National Conference for Caregiving Coalitions March 18,2009 Lynn
Friss Feinberg, MSW National Center on Caregiving Family Caregiver
Alliance www.caregiver.org
Slide 2
Caregivers are At-Risk A 25-year body of research shows family
caregivers to be a vulnerable and at-risk population that the
health and LTC system neglects Health risks Financial burdens
Emotional strain Mental health problems Workplace issues Retirement
insecurity
Slide 3
A health problem facing a loved one may be contained in the
body of that one person, but it affects the entire familys soul. --
Former Vice President Al Gore Family Re-Union Conference June 26,
1998
Slide 4
Caregiving Is at a Tipping Point Discharging sicker and quicker
Increasing stress from dealing with an inefficient health care
system and lack of care coordination Little communication among
physicians and lack of contact with the family about treatment and
care options Managing difficult medication schedules and using
sophisticated technology in the home Oxygen equipment, catheters,
intravenous medications
Slide 5
Navigating an increasingly fragmented and confusing service
delivery system Locating and accessing quality paid help Dealing
with information overload and choices Juggling competing demands of
work and caregiving More long-distance caregiving Caregiving Is at
a Tipping Point
Slide 6
The Big Disconnect Lack of understanding of the complexity of
caregiving today, and the human toll on those receiving AND giving
care.until it happens to you Huge denial Scary Ideological
barriers
Slide 7
Families Are Deeply Worried For many American families in the
throws of caregiving for a frail older adult, there is deep worry
about quality of care and quality of life. Families dont know who
to call, or where to go, to get the right kind of help, at the
right time, and help they can afford Deep frustration and a sense
of hopelessness about our broken health care and LTC system when
you are going through it
Slide 8
Caregivers Express Less Confidence in Future Ability to Obtain
High-Quality Care Percent of adults ages 19-64 who are not too
confident or not at all confident they will be able to obtain high
quality care when needed in the future Caring for sick or disabled
family member Not Caring for sick or disabled family member 60 40
20 0 TotalWomenMen 43* 27 45* 30 38 24 * Significant difference at
p