Kentucky Family Caregivers Provide $7 Billion in Unpaid Care According to AARP Study

New report reveals stress on family caregivers’ health and finances; identifies policies to help support caregivers.

Family caregivers in Kentucky provided 603 million hours of care—worth an estimated $7 billion—to their parents, spouses, partners, and other adult loved ones in 2013, according to AARP Public Policy Institute’s new report, Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update. The total estimated economic value of uncompensated care provided by the nation’s family caregivers surpassed total Medicaid spending ($449 billion), and nearly equaled the annual sales ($469 billion) of the four largest U.S. tech companies combined (Apple, Hewlett Packard, IBM, and Microsoft) in 2013.

Family caregiving for relatives or close friends with chronic, disabling, or serious health problems so they can remain in their home is nearly universal today. In 2013, about 648,000 family caregivers in Kentucky helped another adult loved one carry out daily activities (such as bathing or dressing, preparing meals, administering medications, driving to doctor visits, and paying bills).

“This new report demonstrates that we need to do more to assist the 648,000 caregivers in our state,” said AARP Kentucky State Director, Ron Bridges. “One of the things that will help family caregivers is the Family Caregivers Act.”

Family Caregivers in the Future
As Americans live longer and have fewer children, fewer family members will be available for older adults to rely on for everyday help in the future. The ratio of potential family caregivers to the growing number of older people has already begun a steep decline. In 2010, there were 7.2 potential family caregivers for every person age 80 and older. By 2030, that ratio will fall sharply to 4 to 1, and is projected to drop further to 3 to 1 in 2050.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impact of Caregiving on Jobs, Money, and Health
Family caregivers report that the stress of caregiving affects their physical and emotional health, finances, and their jobs.

• More than half (55%) of family caregivers report being overwhelmed by the amount of care their family member needs.
• Nearly 4 in 10 (38%) family caregivers report a moderate (20%) to high degree (18%) of financial strain as a result of providing care.
• In 2014, the majority (60%) of family caregivers had full- or part-time jobs.

 

Strategies and Policies Needed to Help Caregivers
“AARP strongly supports passage of the Family Caregivers Act. The Family Caregivers Act will help family caregivers when their loved ones go into the hospital – and as they return home. Specifically, the Family Caregivers Act will require hospitals to:

• Record the name of the family caregiver when their loved one is admitted.
• Notify the family caregiver when their loved one is to be moved or discharged.
• Give instructions of the tasks the family caregiver will need to perform while caring for their loved one at home.”

Bridges added, “We also need to work on a broader plan that involves both the public and private sectors to support family caregivers here in Kentucky.”

“Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update” Methodology
The estimates in this report by AARP’s Public Policy Institute are based on a meta-analysis of 11 U.S.-based surveys of family caregivers conducted between 2009 and 2014. Estimates are based on about 40 million caregivers providing an average of 18 hours of care per week to a parent, spouse/partner, or other adult loved one, at an average value of $12.51 per hour. ‘Caregiver’ is defined as an adult age 18 and older providing care to a parent, spouse, or other adult loved one with their daily activities such as bathing or dress, preparing meals, and/or managing their finances, currently or within the last month.

Caregiving Resources:

• AARP Caregiving Resource Center
• Caregiving in the US: 2015 Report
• Home Alone: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Chronic Care (October 2012)
• The ABA/AARP Checklist for Family Caregivers: A Guide to Making It Manageable (2015)
• Amy Goyer’s ABA/AARP Juggling Life, Work and Caregiving (2015)
• AARP’s I Heart Caregivers Initiative