Families in Crisis

Recent statistics reported in the Senior Spectrum, spring 2000

Households in the US

- 23% of all U.S. households with telephones have at least one caregiver.

** This translates to 22,411,200 households;

- A total of 4,110,000 households have a caregiver that provides at least 40 hours of care per week.

Employment Status

- 64% caregivers work
- 52% full-time
- 12% part-time

Caregiving

• 69% provide care to one person,
• 23% provide care to two people, and
• 8% provide care to three or more.
• 85% care for a relative and 15% care for a friend or neighbor.
• Care recipients are typically female relatives
  • 31% are mothers
  • 9% are mothers-in-law
  • 12% are grandmothers
• Only 5% report caring for a spouse.
• The average age of a in-home care giver is 46
  • 22% are under 35
  • 39% are between 35 and 49
  • 24% are between 50 and 64
  • 12% are 65 and older
• The average age of a care recipient is 77 years of age
  • 64% are over the age of 75
  • 24% are over the age of 85

Living arrangements

• 20% of the care recipients live in the same home as the caregiver
• 37% live with another family member or a friend
• over 50% live alone

Impact on Work

• 81% reported that employers were at least somewhat understanding
• 54% report changes at work to accommodate caregiving
• 20% gave up work temporarily or permanently
• 11% took a leave of absence
• 4% took early retirement
• 7% changed from a full-time job to a part-time or less demanding job.

Growing Need

• Life expectancy of Americans has been increasing throughout the past century.
• The impact of the aging of the baby boomer generation is anticipated to overwhelm any current system in place.
• The American population aged 65 and older will double between the years 2000 and 2030 from 35 million to 79 million.
• Nevada is at the top of the ratings of “demand intensity” for households headed by those 55 years and older according to the National Association of Homebuilders study released earlier this year (2000).

The study finds

1. That relative to the size of its population, Nevada is projected to have the greatest success attracting those 55+ from out of state. (Florida is second)
2. These baby boomers who have moved away from their extended families, children, and former networking associations will require a multiplicity of services as they age, especially those related to caregiving.
3. Many people may have to rely on their spouse for caregiving.
4. Their needs will be compounded once a spouse dies leaving the surviving spouse with a significant need for care but without the family to provide it.
5. This population of elders is vulnerable to isolation, to seeking caregiving assistance from minimally or unqualified caregivers, to exploitation.
6. Many of these people would benefit from moving to an assisted living residence; others would choose to remain in their homes and receive in-home support.
7. In either case, qualified, well-trained, committed and compassionate caregivers must be available.

Government Involvement

1. Congress has been acutely aware of the imminent crisis in elder health care.
2. Government power to tax the people will fall short of financial demands of the elder population
3. In the year 2000, two efforts were made to finance projects to develop training curricula for elder caregivers
4. Funding was distributed into many small grants that compromised the success of any positive outcome.
5. No comprehensive effort is planned or underway that gives reasonable hope of providing meaningful and effective solutions

Private Sector Services

1. The individuals who choose to live in the residential care environment financially support the licensed residential care industry.
2. Some of the smaller residential care homes accept SSI with Medicaid Waiver funds for their indigent residents.
3. Medicaid generally does not pay for residential care.
4. One company in the community does have a compassionate aide program if there are apartments available.
5. Small homes – generally licensed for six residents, have one caregiver available in the home.
   1. That caregiver may or may not live in.
   2. A person needing 24-hour awake supervision is not able to remain in that setting unless he or she is medicated to reduce awake behaviors.
6. Larger residences have awake staff on duty 24 hours a day.
7. There is significant employee turnover in all residences.
8. A recent preliminary caregiver survey (N-39) revealed that turnover is primarily due to demands of the job, low pay, and lack of caregiving skills and knowledge.
9. Overtime – only 17% reported no overtime.
10. 3% reported over 20 hours overtime in a week.
11. 14% reported no training in the last year.
12. 21% reported receiving 8 hours of training in last year.
13. 21% report no abuse/neglect prevention training.

Training desired by caregivers is:
(in order of most interest)

1. How to deal with difficult resident behaviors
2. Positive communication techniques
3. Effective problem solving techniques
4. Universal precautions
5. How to treat residents with dignity and respect
6. How to transfer residents safely
7. Chart Documentation
8. How to safely assist residents in Showering/bathing
9. Meals/eating assistance
10. How to provide assist residents in toileting
11. How to provide personal care assistance