Watch the video blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Bt4HWZRsI
More and more of us are caring for our aging family members at the same time as working, caring for adult children and wondering if we can ever retire. Some of us are even retiring early and reducing our possible pensions and social security benefits to care for a family member.
According to AARP there are an estimated 44.4 million caregivers in the United States, on average that provide 21 hours of care per week. The average length of caregiving is 4.3 years, according to AARP, but in my professional experience most families I work with spend 8 to 10 years providing some element of care. One issue the studies don’t reflect is, once a family member has moved to skilled nursing or assisted living, the care might not be direct but it continues with medical appointments, advocacy and emotional support. So this journey can be as long as 20 years!
The AARP study said the most frequently unmet need of caregivers are finding time for one self, managing emotional and physical stress, balancing work and family responsibilities.
That is one of the reasons that Eldercare Services provides free support groups for family members in both our San Francisco and Walnut Creek offices. Check out our schedule on our “Classes and Support Groups” page on the website.
Don’t try to do this alone – get the support you need.