prepare to care: helping families plan ahead judy bowen oaa program analyst 3 department of human...

Prepare to Care:Helping Families Plan Ahead

Judy BowenOAA Program Analyst 3Department of Human Services/SPDState Unit on Aging676 Church StreetSalem, OR 97301Tel: 503-373-1842Fax: [email protected]

Bandana ShresthaDirector, Community Engagement AARP Oregon9200 SE Sunnybrook Blvd, Suite 410Clackamas, OR 97015Tel: 503-513-7368Fax: [email protected]

Prepare to Care: Helping Families Plan Ahead 2

Helping Families Plan Ahead

Current trends in caregiving

Reaching current and future caregivers

Tools to help families


Caregiver Facts What percent of care provided in the US is

provided by family or friends?

83%

What percent of caregivers are paid?

13%

What percent of US caregivers are male?

39%

What percent have children in the household?

37%


More Caregiver Facts A typical caregiver is 46yrs, female, married,

and employed outside the home.

Most care for their parents, grandparents and spouse (in that order).

Nearly 6 of 10 workers are balancing work & caregiving.

On average, working caregivers provide 18 hrs/week of care for older persons.

• Workers providing long-term intense care averaged $659,000 in lost wages, pension, and Social Security.

• Long-distance caregivers miss an average of 20 hrs/month.

• Average full time employee caregiver costs an employer $2110/year.


Future Trends Life expectancy in the US went from 47 to 77 over the

last century.

The fastest-growing age group is 85 and older.

35 million older Americans today will increase to 70 million in 2030.

Caregiving is expected to increase in the future due to: Growth of older population Smaller family size Increase in two-earner households Long distance caregiving


Unprepared!Most Americans understand why it’s important to plan for the future. But when it comes to caring for a loved one, most families don’t have a plan until there is a problem.


Implications of Crisis-Driven CareFailing to plan for future responsibilities can make a bad situation worse.

Caregiver - Care Recipient - Employer - Society

• Stress• Family finances • Training• Support• Recognition• Lack of choice • Quality of care


Never Too Late

What really matters is that every American family has the opportunity to talk about and create a caregiving plan for their loved ones based on the needs and wishes of those who will be receiving the care.


Reaching Current and Future Caregivers What are you currently doing to reach current and future caregivers?

How can you expand outreach?

Uncommon Partners Employers Chamber of commerce Service clubs Faith communities

Activities Lunch Seminars Resource fairs Caregiver Clinics Letters to the editor Start support groups


Tools to Help Families Plan Ahead!

41 Tip Sheets on: Caregiving Your Home Housing Options Transportation Legal Insurance End of Life Resources


Prepare to Care Designed for working

caregivers

Includes a guide and tools to help planning

AARP Foundation/OSU Extension Pilot Project

www.aarp.org/about_aarp/aarp_foundation/programs_services/prepare_to_care.html


Five Steps to a Family Caregiving Plan

STEP 1: Prepare to Talk STEP 2: Form your Team STEP 3: Assess Needs STEP 4: Make a Plan STEP 5: Take Action


Step 1: Prepare to Talk

“Every time I try to bring up the future, my mother just shuts down. She told me the important papers are in the cabinet, but the conversation never seems to go beyond that.”


The reality is…

That some conversations are just plain difficult – even with the people to whom you feel the closest.


Step 2: Form Your Team


Step 3: Assess needs

Before you can come up with a family caregiver plan that works for your family, gather two types of information:

Personal information

National and Local Resources


Step 4: Make a Plan

Now that you have put your team together, and gathered all the information you need to make solid decisions, it’s time to sit down with your members and put your plan together.

Keep in mind that you can’t plan for every detail, if you have the basics covered, you will have an important foundation.


Step 5: Take Action

The strength and success of a family caregiving plan is only tested when the plan is actually put into action

Most important, family members should always remember that no matter how organized and committed you are, the plan will have to change as you go along.

That’s OK!


Families and Aging: Dilemmas & Decisions

Get into small groups: Roll the dice Move the indicated number of

squares on the game board Draw a card and read it out loud Say “how you feel” and “ what

you would do”

Discuss the situation

“Dialogue” card: Act out the situation


References: Caregiving in the U.S., National Alliance on Caregiving and

AARP 2004

Miles Away: The Metlife Study of Long-Distance Caregiving, 2004

The MetLife Juggling Act Study: Balancing Caregiving with Work and the Costs Involved. 1999

The MetLife Caregiving Costs Study: Productivity Losses to US Business, 2006


How Can I get More information?AARP and AARP Foundationwww.aarp.orgKey words:

Caregiving Prepare to Care

1-888-OUR-AARP (687-2277)

OSU Extension http://extension.oregonstate.edu/fcd/pubs/

THANK YOU!!!

prepare to care: helping families plan ahead judy bowen oaa program analyst 3 department of human...

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