Foundation for American Health Care Leadership Promoting and Enabling Healthy Choices: Linking the Desire for Health with the Decisions & Tools that Support Health Suzanne Mintz, President/Co-founder NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS ASSOCIATION 1/

NFCA NFCA is the nation’s leading grassroots organization in support of all family caregivers. NFCA educates, supports, empowers, and speaks up for the millions of Americans who care for chronically ill, aged, or disabled loved ones. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of different diagnoses, different relationships and different life stages to address the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers.

Family Caregiving Today Basic Facts More than 50 million Americans Over ½ provide on average 20 hours of care per week or more 80% of all homecare services Conservative market value $257 billion annually; more than twice what is spend on nursing homes and paid homecare combines; comparable to all Medicare spending Typical FCG woman 46 yrs old, employed, caring for mom who lives elsewhere

Financial Impact Lower incomes than typical American family – 43% less than $30K compared to 35% Out of pocket medical expenses 2.5 times higher – 11.2 percent of income.

Health Impact As many as 59% prone to clinical depression Multiple studies have shown immune system impact, and in some cases increased mortality. Most recent findings: Stress of family caregiving can cause premature aging, as much as 10 years.

A Vision for the Future At NFCA we envision an America in which: patients and their families are at the center of all healthcare planning; care for those with chronic conditions is holistic and integrated --- across medical and social settings, regardless of age or economic status; the contributions of family caregivers to the welfare of their loved ones and to society is recognized and supported so that family caregivers no longer need to sacrifice their own health and wellness to provide care.

Self Identified FCG Motivated But Not Enabled Believe self care very important yet self care declines with family caregiving. Regular exercise decreases by 50% Doctor visits to check out a perceived health problem decrease by 33%. The experience doesn’t move people to plan for their own future - 45% not at all, and only 29% a little bit.

Non Self- Identified FCG Not Even Motivated Family Caregiving It’s Not All Up to You A Public Education Campaign Designed to Help Family Caregivers Recognize Their Own Risk and Seek Help to Be Better Caregivers

Things We Are Seeing Parents who have relocated for retirement are moving closer to their kids Aging women are talking about congregate housing as a way to continue to be independent while also living in community. Olmstead decision creating a base of more home/community-based services enabling the concept of aging in place. (Bring services to me, not me to services)

Things to Think About No matter how healthy our life style, sooner or later we will get at least one chronic condition. After the golden years come the rust years. There are far fewer Gen Xers than there are boomers, and the healthcare worker shortage will not be eradicated any time soon. Who will provide care? Living longer means needing more money for a longer period of time. EBRI says most of us won’t have it. Medical science moves at the speed of sound. Social and systems changes move glacially. How can our institutions respond in meaningful ways?

More Things to Think About Americans values youth, beauty, and comfort. Can we scare people into action using chronological vs real age comparisons and life with savings vs not enough savings comparisons? Membership in the Hemlock Society is on the rise. Is choosing the time of our death the ultimate act of control and a very pragmatic present to give our kids? (half joking – not sure how serious)

National Family Caregivers Association For more information on Helping Family Caregivers Become Advocates and Building a Family Caregiver Activist Movement Contact NFCA 1/