Updated April 2025 When they can, seniors typically choose to live independently. Some remain in a family home while others downsize or enjoy the comfort of a retirement community. Seniors who need assistance coping with health conditions may depend on family members for help. They may instead opt to reside in an assisted living facility. […]
Higher hour caregivers — defined as those who provide at least 21 hours and up to 60 hours of care per week without pay — are likely to suffer emotional stress as well as physical and financial strain, according to the report Caregiving in the U.S. 2015. Jointly issued by the National Alliance for Caregiving […]
A 2020 companion report issued by The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP on Caregiving in the U.S. found that 11% of the 50+ plus caregivers lived a least one hour away from their care recipient. And those numbers are only likely to increase as society continues to be more and more mobile. Providing help […]
If you are a friend, relative or neighbor of a caregiver, you are in an ideal position to provide this person with much-needed help, assistance, and gestures of appreciation. You can provide care for the caregiver in large and small ways, either occasionally or regularly. Whatever you do can make a huge difference in the […]
No one really knows how many people are caregivers. The CDC estimates 53 million in 2020. Everyone does agree, though, that caregivers need support and a mini-industry seems to be growing in response to this need. That support starts the old-fashioned way with books and publications. The “Caregiver’s Handbook” published as a special report by […]
The following list of organizations and companies is provided for informational purposes only. This directory is not comprehensive, but it does include some excellent resources to help you jumpstart your research. While visiting these websites, be aware that some are reputable government sites; others are commercial businesses that may request you fill out a form […]
Caregiving is exhausting, both physically and emotionally, as well as time-consuming. That means that caregivers need–and should take advantage of–all the help and support they can get. It helps to have someone else check in on your parents periodically to assess their living situation. You need to recognize that your parents may not be totally […]
Your parents are healthy, live independently in their own home, and seem to manage well on their own with little help or oversight. But how can you be sure, and what can you do to make sure nothing changes? If you live nearby, visit frequently, occasionally without advance warning–that way you can see how they […]
Now that you are beginning to understand the challenges of caregiving, have identified and assembled your caregiving team, had the difficult conversation with your aging parents about their visions of the future, and emphasized again and again the need for open communication and feedback, you are ready for the next steps. Some More Fundamentals Some […]
Taking on the role of caregiver for your aging parents is a life-altering challenge–both for your parents and for you. For your parents, it marks a transition from the independent life they are used to, a transition where they turn over some, if not all, of the decision making and responsibilities to someone else–namely you […]