Nearly 90 Percent of Connecticut Residents Support a Family Caregiver Tax Credit

New AARP research also shows majority of residents are more likely to support candidates who endorse a family caregiver tax credit

Family caregivers across Connecticut are stressed and often overwhelmed balancing the physical, emotional, financial and time-consuming demands required to care for their older loved ones. They need financial relief and according to new research by AARP, 89 percent of Connecticut adults support a family caregiver tax credit. The report also shows that the majority of Connecticut adults are more likely to support a candidate for the Connecticut State Legislature who endorses such a state income tax credit.

AARP Connecticut urges state lawmakers to support a tax credit for the family caregivers across the state who are making tremendous financial, physical, and emotional sacrifices to help their older parents, spouses, and other loved ones live independently at home – where they want to be – instead of being forced into costly, taxpayer-funded nursing homes.

Connecticut needs family caregivers. Connecticut family caregivers need financial relief. Connecticut voters want their legislators to pass a Connecticut caregiver tax credit. AARP Connecticut encourages residents to email their state lawmaker to tell them Connecticut caregivers deserve a tax credit.

In addition to helping with bathing, dressing, transportation and much more, Connecticut’s 420,000 unpaid family caregivers take on financial challenges spending on average about $7,200 annually out of their own pockets in caregiving expenses. The unpaid care provided by the 420,000 caregivers in Connecticut is valued at $7.2 billion annually, according to state data available in AARP’s Valuing the Invaluable report.

AARP’s newest research also shows 98 percent of Connecticut adults consider it important to have services enabling their loved one to remain at home for as long as possible, and 81 percent prefer care at home with caregiver assistance if long-term care is needed. Additional key findings include:

• About three in 10 (31 percent) Connecticut residents 18 and older are or have been family caregivers, with most (73 percent) being employed at the same time.
• Transportation is the most common expense that Connecticut family caregivers say they have incurred when providing care to their loved one, with 88 percent noting the expense.
• Feeling stressed emotionally (79 percent) and stressed in trying to balance work and family responsibilities (73 percent) are most often noted by Connecticut caregivers. They also cited health challenges such as finding it difficult to:
  
  • get enough rest (67 percent)]
  • exercise regularly (57 percent)
  • maintain a healthy diet (42 percent)
  • deal with health problems (37 percent)
  • make time to visit a doctor (35 percent)

Visit www.aarp.org/ct to find the full report and infographic of the research. Resources and information on family caregiving are available at aarp.org/caregiving.