Support Services for Caregivers of Aging Parents
Posted on | January 4, 2012 | No Comments
An aging population has resulted in a significant increase in the number of adult children caring for aging parents. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, “more than 65 million people, 29% of the U.S. population provide care.” These numbers are expected to increase as the population lives longer, but not necessarily healthier, due to medical advances.
Because of the significant need for education about support services for caregivers, The Care Navigator has released a video series educating about issues faced by older adults and their adult children caregivers. The videos outline available support services. According to Pamela D. Wilson, “Many caregivers tell us they’re overwhelmed and that there’s simply too much information to evaluate. They don’t know how to evaluate information or who to trust for support.”
Focus groups initiated by The Care Navigator tell the story of adult children outright lying to parents about providing care and family disagreements escalating because of opinions rather than factual information about caregiving and available services. Adult children, having made promises years earlier to care for a parent, find themselves stuck when the need arises and the realities of providing care, giving up employment and moving across country become unrealistic.
Posts
