1 in 5 Latinos in the U.S. are Unpaid Family Caregivers; AARP and the Ad Council Offer Support in New PSA Campaign

Nearly seven million Latinos in the U.S. provide unpaid care to an aging or older loved one. Many Latino family caregivers see caregiving responsibilities simply as something family members do for one another, and do not seek outside help. AARP and the Ad Council offer support with a new PSA campaign , encouraging Latino caregivers nationwide to access free Care Guides, self-care tips, planning resources, legal and financial guidance, and more.

  “Juggling work, personal and caregiving responsibilities can be highly stressful, often putting caregivers at risk for depression, anxiety, heart disease and financial challenges,” said Yvette Pena, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Latino Audience Strategy. “It’s vital that Latino families not only recognize the role of family caregivers, but also have access to culturally relevant resources and support.”

Six in 10 family caregivers juggle caregiving responsibilities with full- or part-time jobs. That rate is even higher among Latino caregivers: nearly 7 in 10 work an average of 36 hours per week outside the home, and 1 in 4 provide more than 40 hours of care each week. Family caregivers spend an average of $6,954 a year — nearly 20 percent of their income — on out-of-pocket costs related to caregiving. Latino and low-income family caregivers spend even more with an average of $9,022, representing 44 percent of their total income per year.

“Caregivers dedicate so much of their time, energy and their hearts to making someone else's life better. They're an inspiration,” said Lisa Sherman, Ad Council President and CEO. “By bringing these incredible partners together to make such beautiful work, we can reach caregivers across the country to help them access the support they need and deserve.”

The new PSA campaign, created pro bono by the multicultural ad agency ALMA, reminds caregivers that getting support helps them provide the best care for their loved one — who, in many cases, once cared for them as a child. The TV spots depict poignant scenes of a father being a “hero” for his young daughter, and conclude with the line, “Your hero needs you now. And AARP is here to help.” The PSAs encourage viewers to visit AARP’s Family Caregiving Website at aarp.org/caregiving and aarp.org/cuidar .

“It is a real privilege for us at ALMA to develop the second iteration of the Caregiver Assistance campaign,” said Luis Miguel Messianu, CEO and Creative Chairman of ALMA. “‘Caregiving’ is part of our DNA and being able to flex the muscle of our emotional storytelling style on behalf of this cause is a real gift! We are extremely proud of this body of work.”

AARP Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the National Hispanic Council on Aging, will be hosting a Hispanic Caregiving Thought Leaders Roudtable in Philadlephia on November 30th. This roundtable is designed to focus on identifying the education and training needs of Hispanic family caregivers. To learn more about the event and to register, please email AARP Pennsylvania.