Many older caregivers face financial stress and aren't aware of or don't use programs designed for them, especially if they don't have friends or family to help them out
Nearly a third of Americans over 50 provide regular care to an adult relative or friend with a health issue or disability, but many of them don't know about, or use, local resources that could help them with caregiving, according to a new University of Michigan poll.
And about 20% of these caregivers are like highwire acrobats working without a net. They're taking care of someone else with health needs, but without close friends or family members to pitch in if they needed help with their own health concerns.
The new findings from the U-M National Poll on Healthy Aging could inform caregiver-related policy discussions at state and national levels.
It also suggests a need for increased awareness of existing programs such as adult day programs and respite care, and local organizations like Area Agencies on Aging, that address the needs of adults 60 and older and their caregivers. Such programs can connect caregivers to services, support and resources that can reduce their burden and improve the day-to-day care they provide.
The poll is based at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and supported by Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center, with additional support for Michigan-specific polling from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
Caregiving and caregiver support
In all, the poll finds 22% of people over 50 served as caregivers in the last year for an adult with health or disability needs they don't live with, and 12% did so for someone they live with. Taken together, 32% of all people over 50 served as caregivers for at least one adult with health or disability needs.
In all, 17% of all caregivers say they do not have the support they need to manage their caregiving responsibilities. But the percentage of caregivers saying this was much higher-41%-among those who also reported they did not have close friends or family to depend on for help with their own needs.
That's compared with a much lower percentage saying they don't have support for caregiving responsibilities-just 11%-among caregivers who do have friends and family to depend on for their own health needs.
"This is an issue we need to keep our eyes on as our nation continues to grapple with the growing demand for unpaid, untrained caregiving for older adults and for people with disabilities and serious health needs," said Florence Johnson, assistant professor in the U-M School of Nursing and member of IHPI. "Our poll shows that 23% of all people over 50, including many who are already caregivers for one or more adults, may lack family or friends to help them if they needed support with health needs. But they may not know where or how to find services."
Financial impacts of caregiving
The poll asked about the financial impact of caregiving for a relative or friend with health issues or a disability.
Caregivers often take time away from work if they're employed or spend money on transportation and other expenses to provide care. But most family or friend caregivers cannot receive pay from insurance or government sources for their efforts, except in rare circumstances.
In all, 34% of caregivers said caregiving resulted in financial challenges for them. The percentage was higher (40%) among those aged 50 to 64 than those over 65 (27%). It was also higher among caregivers whose own physical or mental health is fair or poor, or who have a disability themselves.
The percentage citing a financial challenge from caregiving was also higher, at 47%, among caregivers who say they don't have family or friends to help with their own health needs.
Among all caregivers who feel they don't have enough support to manage their caregiving responsibilities, the poll team asked what would help them most. The top answer by far, mentioned by 69%, was financial assistance or subsidies for caregiving expenses.
