Care for Aging Parent Often Falls to Women
By Barbara Bartlein
Seventy three percent of caregivers for aging parents are women, according to the non-profit organization Children of Aging Parents. They estimate that 22,411,000 households in the U.S. are involved in care giving with the average age of the caregiver being 46 years of age; when employees are often at the peak of their careers.
These statistics come as no surprise to Rhonda J.V. Montgomery, an internationally known scholar in aging, and the first person to occupy the new chair in gerontology at the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at U.W.M. “Eighty percent of long term care is done by spouses. Women will spend more time caring for parents/spouses than caring for their children.”
During the last 20 years, Montgomery has conducted scores of regional and national studies focusing on public policy and the role of the family in providing long-term care. For 11 years, she has evaluated demonstration projects in 33 states that are operating through grants from the federal Administration on Aging.
“Families are struggling,” she explains. “As a society, the challenge we face is how to support four to five generation families where many of the women hold jobs outside the home. How will these families be able to care for the growing number of people living into old age?”
She has been a leader in understanding the supports systems that need to be in place for care givers to meet the needs of their families without disrupting their careers or burning out. She recommends:
- Plan for the future. Sounds simple but relatively few of us do it. We buy fire insurance, save for the kid’s education and retirement, but are reluctant to consider the possibility that we will need special care or nursing services in the future. “Denial gets in the way,” according to Montgomery. “We have to accept that the majority of us will need some services in the future.”
- Think long term. Understand how to get into the system before you need it. There is a continuum of services in many communities that can meet needs on many levels. As housing is often an issue, plans need to include a transition when independent living is no longer possible. The time to leave the family home is when you can still walk out of it.
- Ask for help. Many employee assistance programs have resources for caregivers and can assist employees in accessing services. If not, consider hiring an expert. There are nurses/social workers that specialize in this area. They do a full needs assessment and offer recommendations. Often they are also available to coordinate care, arrange for funding and develop a long-term plan. It is frequently valuable for someone outside of immediate family to assist the elderly client in understanding which choices and options are realistic.
- Consider long-term care insurance. Often misunderstood, it usually covers more than just nursing home placement. Many policies also cover in home care or periodic services. The cost for long-term care insurance often skyrockets after age 59, so it is important to gather information and consider options earlier rather than later.
- Make contacts. There are many resources available locally and nationally. These include the Children of Aging Parents, the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, Eldercare OnLine, and ResourcesforAging.com. Most will send free information or have articles on various topics posted free on their website.
For More Information:
- For additional information on the Center on Age and Community at UWM, visit www.aging.uwm.edu.
- Free E-Mail Newsletter: Sign up at www.successmatters.org.
About the Author:
Barbara Bartlein, is The People Pro, and President of Great Lakes Consulting Group, LLC, which helps companies sell more goods and services by developing people. She can be reached at 888-747-9953, by e-mail at: barb@barbbartlein.com or visit her website at www.ThePeoplePro.com.
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