1. Aging and Elder Care: Issues and Resources

2. Ageism Aging Myths

3. Demographics The Graying of America
Fastest growing population group is older Americans
Most rapid growth is among people 85+ with the majority being females
Projected rapid increase in the older adult population between 2010 and 2030 as baby boomers reach age 65
By 2030, one of every five Americans will be 65+

4. Demographics, 2 The Graying of America
Nearly 25% of US households (more than 22 million) have at least one adult who has provided care for an elderly person at some point in the previous 12 months
Nearly two-thirds of Americans under age 60 think they will have elder care responsibilities in the next ten years

5. Aging Workforce Trends
74% to 80% of baby boomers expect to still be working past retirement
Within the next five years, the age group will be the fastest growing group in the labor force
By 2008, 1 out of 6 workers will be over the age of 65
By 2015, 1 out of 10 workers will be women over the age of 65

6. Aging Workforce Trends, 2
Within the next five years the age group will be the fastest growing group in the U.S. labor market
By 2015, the number of workers over 55 is expected to increase to more than 31 million, or nearly 20% of the workforce
Age discrimination is the fastest growing category for EEOC complaints

7. Who is a Caregiver?
Caregiving: Helping someone age 60 or over who has limited ability for routine and daily activities of living
Checking on older adults by phone or visits
Driving someone to and from doctor and other appointments
Communicating with health care providers
Assisting with managing medications
Assisting someone to pay bills
Helping with financial or legal matters
Arranging for Meals on Wheels
Contacting or helping someone communicate with organizations such as the Area Agency on Aging or the Alzheimer’s Association
Helping someone clean their home or arranging for housecleaning
Assisting someone or arranging for home repairs
Arranging for home health care or hospice services
Review quickly….perhaps highlighting those areas that many caregivers often do and think “I am taking care of someone I love so I don’t consider it caregiving.”
Possible comments to make:
Unless there is a sudden illness or accident such as a fall, caregiving tends to begin slowly and over time take more time and resources
The biggest challenge is helping caregivers “self identify,” find information and accept help

8. There are only four kinds of people in this world:
Those who have been caregivers;
Those who currently are caregivers;
Those who will be caregivers, and Those who will need caregivers. -Rosalynn Carter
Quickly review

9. Caregiving is a Family Affair
80% of all elder care is provided informally by family members at no public cost
2003 study on caregivers in the workplace
56% are women
44% are men

10. Caregivers by Age
65% of all caregivers are aged 35-64

11. The vast majority of long-term care is provided informally and privately, at no public cost
2003 Study
56% are women
44% are men
Source: National Alliance for Caregiving and the Center for Productive Aging (2003), Sons at Work: Balancing Employment and Eldercare
Briefly review, according to the audience.
Note 2000 data for circle graph and 2003 for workplace caregiving and gender;
American Society on Aging, 2000

12. The Value of Care
The value of the services family caregivers provide for "free" nationwide is estimated to exceed $300 billion a year
Assisted living costs in North Central Texas range from $36,000 - $72,000 per year
Average nursing home care per year in Texas is $60K per year
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS

13. Differences in Care by Gender
Men more likely to provide long-distance care
Men more likely to forego business-related travel
Men less likely to discuss responsibilities with colleagues
Women more likely to provide personal care of ADLs
Women more likely to report depression

14. Business Impact and Working Caregivers
More than 14 million US workers care for aging family members
A growing number of working people is proving elder care to family members
Commuting is increasingly a challenge for balancing work and other parts of one’s life

15. Business Impact and Working Caregivers,2
47-50% of caregivers are employed, and over 70% of these working caregivers are employed full-time
More than 40% of caregivers also care for children under 18 The Sandwich Generation
An estimated 7 to 10 million adult children are caring for their parents from a long distance
US businesses annually lose between $17.1 billion and $33.6 billion in retention, absenteeism and productivity due
to elder caregiving

16. Working Caregivers Trying to Find Balance
Went in late, left early, time off during work
49%
Took leave of absence
11%
Dropped to part-time job 7%
Lost job benefits 4%
Turned down promotion 3%
Chose early retirement
Gave up work entirely 6%

17. Elder Caregiver Basics: Issues, Resources, & Stress Management
Elder Caregiver Basics: Issues, Resources, & Stress Management 17

18. Caregiver’s Checklist
Assess the situation – “What are the needs?”
Thorough recent medical examination
Functional assessment of ADLs by an occupational therapist, nurse practitioner, social worker, home health, or other (ask doctor to prescribe)
Complete Family Caregiver Assessment
Prioritize needs
Engage the care receiver to respect their wishes
Organize important information; keep portable set of important documents
Comments:
Here is a step by step checklist for caregiving. You may have other items on your own list.
Be clear on what the needs are.
Prioritize the needs: do you the caregiver need to do them all? Who else could help?
Organize: set up files, a 3-ring binder, spiral, & other organizing methods: medical, financial, prescription drugs, insurance, & others
Plan with the care receiver not for them……emphasize that you want them to be safe & as healthy as possible while respecting their wishes.
We have education modules that cover many of the items on this list through seminars & online. 18

19. Caregiver’s Checklist, 2
Learn about diseases & conditions
Find help in the community & from others, including family
Learn about community & internet resources
Plan for the future (medical, financial & legal)
Take care of yourself

20. Important Caregiver Tasks
Set healthy limits & boundaries
Ask for help
Comments:
Caregivers say that these are two of the most important things that you need to do.
Slide speaks for itself but you can add own comments, refer to previous slide, etc. 20

21. Survey Highlights of People Who ‘Self-Identify’ as Family Caregivers, National Family Caregivers Association
91% believe “preserving your health” is a message that should be told to all family caregivers
30% exercise regularly since becoming caregivers, compared with 61% who exercised before becoming caregivers
47% seek prompt medical attention for themselves compared to 70% who did so before becoming caregivers
92% like the idea of caregivers being considered a special group within the population

22. Practical Stress Management Tips
Manage stress before the situation becomes a crisis
Reframe how you see situations
Ask for help and be specific about what you need
Recognize your history and what triggers your stress response “If you always do what you have always done you will always get what you always got”
What do you have control over? What can you influence?
Take care of your physical and mental health
Have some fun
Respond - don't react
Breathe!
Practice letting go

23. Practical Stress Management Tips, 2
Prioritize activities according to their importance and available time. Activity does not necessarily mean productivity
Recognize the harmful effects of perfectionism and take steps to be more flexible
Be willing to accept that sometimes “enough is okay”
Take one day at a time and value it as if it were your last
Educate yourself about caregiving
Join a support group
Remind yourself about the high cost of worry and the low return
Decide and “Just do it”

24. Resources For Caregivers
Call
2-1-1 throughout Texas. Provides information and access to health and human service information for all ages
to find local Texas Area Agency on Aging
Elder Care Locator to find help throughout the United States
Online
Family Caregivers Online
Online education, resources, links, frequently asked questions
Benefits Check-up for an online way to determine benefits for which someone qualifies.
To schedule a caregiver presentation for your church, business, library, civic group, or other location, call your local area agency on aging or send an from
Review

25. What Assistance is Available Through the Area Agency on Aging (AAA)?
Services for persons age 60 and older
Benefits counseling
Ombudsman - advocacy for those who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities
Home delivered meals
Congregate meals
Caregiver Services
Information and referral
Caregiver education and training
Caregiver respite
Caregiver support coordination
Case management

26. Family Caregiver Education
How?
Workplace
Faith Based Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, etc. 26

27. Written by
Zanda Hilger, M.Ed., LPC, on behalf of Area Agency on Aging of Tarrant County, North Central Texas, &Dallas County, revised 5/09
This program is one module of a comprehensive caregiver education program
Go to for more information about this and
other training programs
internet links
frequently asked caregiver questions
legal forms
phone numbers
and more
Sources include:
US Administration on Aging
AARP
US General Accounting Office
US Department of Labor
MetLife Insurance
National Council on Aging
National Family Caregivers Association
National Alliance for Caregiving and the Center for Productive Aging (2003), Sons at Work: Balancing Employment and Eldercare
The MetLife Caregiving Costs Study: Productivity Losses to U.S. Business, with the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC),