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Many people find themselves
responsible for paying for the care of their parents as they age. But according
to a just-released survey, these adult children of aging parents, known as family
caregivers, are vastly unprepared. The survey found:
-- 63% of caregivers have no plan as to how they will pay for
their parents' care over the next five years.
-- 62% say the cost of caring for a parent has impacted their
ability to plan for their own financial future.
"With an estimated 34 million Americans providing care for older
family members, the survey's results indicate a financial crisis in the making,"
says Joe Buckheit, Publisher of AgingCare, a website and online forum for family
caregivers.
"Medicare only covers long-term care for a short time, and only
under strict rules. Medi-gap insurance helps, but does not cover all costs.
The burden of paying for long-term care often rests with the family," Buckheit
says. "The caregivers' lack of planning is impacting their own financial future."
Long-term care costs are not the only expenses caregivers bear.
"Family members responsible for ailing loved ones provide not only hands-on
care but often reach into their own pockets to pay for many daily expenses,
including groceries, household goods, drugs, medical co-payments and transportation,"
says Buckheit. "Americans who are already strapped for cash by the rising price
of gas and food are unable to afford these additional expenses." The survey
found:
-- 34% spend $300 or more per month out of their own pocket
for caregiving expenses.
-- 54% have sacrificed spending money on themselves to pay for
care of their parents.
Work Issues
Making matters worse, caring for aging parents often impacts
adult children at their workplace as well. The survey found:
-- 43% have had to take time off work due to caregiving responsibilities.
-- 48% say they are earning less money at work as a result of caregiving.
-- 25% have been fired or had to quit their job as a result of caregiving.
Physical and Emotional
Toll
Despite potentially making
less money and doling out more, more than half of the caregivers surveyed are
spending what equates to a full-time work week -- 40 hours or more -- on caregiving
duties -- many in addition to their full-time careers outside the home.
-- 53% of caregivers provide care 40 or more hours per week.
-- 37% provide care more than 80 hours per week.
-- 21% say they never get a break from caregiving.
-- 36% get a break of 5 hours or less a week.
The survey indicates that
today's caregivers face a triple financial threat: unplanned-for caregiving
expenses, less money for their own needs and reduced time in the workplace.
About AgingCare.com
AgingCare.com is a website
and online forum for people caring for their aging parents. As the Facebook
for caregivers, AgingCare.com lets those caring for aging parents communicate
with each other, get answers from elder care experts and access news, information
and products related to caregiving. For more information, visit www.agingcare.com
or call 239-594-3200.
Quotes from caregivers
"I am unable to earn the
income needed to continue caring for both my parents and my own family. I've
not only given up my job, but my dreams, for now. It is very lonely and financially
difficult. But I have to do what is right."
"To be a full time caregiver,
I had to retire from my job. Although I was of retirement age, I had not planned
to retire at age 64. I was a healthcare CEO for 27 years."
"I quit my job to take care
of my mother. It has been a financial hardship on me because it is difficult
to work and take care of her."
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