Caregivers, We Are Here For You

Every day, 2.7 million Floridians help parents, spouses and other loved ones with medical care, meals, bathing, chores and much more. These individuals are family caregivers, and they support their loved ones for love, not pay. In fact, the 2023 Valuing the Invaluable report shows that Florida’s family caregivers provide $40 billion in unpaid care. Family and friends are the backbones of America's care system, providing the bulk of care for older people in the U.S. as they strive to live independently.

Burnout, stress, and feelings of isolation are not uncommon. Caring for a loved one can take a toll financially and emotionally, and family caregivers bear it all. In addition to foregone earnings due to time-off work and other medical-related costs, research shows they face feelings of worry, isolation, and helplessness in knowing where to seek help or in how to provide needed care and support to an adult relative or close friend with disabilities or complex health needs.

Many caregivers remain in the workforce if they can, like AARP volunteer, Kip Corriveau. While taking care of his 88-year-old father-in-law, he has remained employed. Since his job at 211 Tampa Bay Cares offers caregiving leave, he can fulfill his role at home while staying in the workforce. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many. As of 2019, more than 60% of family caregivers work in either full-time or part-time roles and 40% say the emotional stress of balancing work and stress as a caregiver is the biggest challenge. We continue to advocate for policies that support family caregivers and relieve some of the stress they face.

At AARP Florida, we strive to make it easier for older people to live independently and remain in their homes and communities where they prefer to be, surrounded by loved ones. The care families and friends provide is invaluable for those receiving it, and is a precious resource for the communities, cities and states wrestling with the realities of an aging population and fewer family members or friends to provide care. By providing resources to family caregivers, we hope to create a state where people can continue to live in their homes and communities for as long as they choose. AARP volunteers and staff are working with legislators and other leaders across the nation to meet the needs of caregivers.

As we navigate the intricacies of caregiving, let us embrace its challenges with open hearts and minds, recognizing the profound impact it has on individuals, families and society. Caregiving is one of the most important and challenging roles you might ever take on. No matter where you are in your caregiving journey, having resources at your fingertips will make the process easier. We have teamed up with United Way to help you get AARP family caregiving resources through your local 211. Call 211 or visit 211.org to connect with a local 211 specialist. AARP also offers a toll-free family caregiving resource line. Agents are available to take calls Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET at 1-877-333-5885. The support line is also available in Spanish, at 1-888-971-2013. The Florida Elder Helpline is another entry point for finding aging, disability and caregiver resources. Helpline staff is available by phone Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at 866-413-5337 (866-41 ELDER).

You can find more helpful information at aarp.org, including nearby resources and the Florida Family Caregiver Resource Guide.