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TextCaregivers
Support caregivers so they can keep giving.
Family members, many of whom are part of the sandwich generation caring for both young and old, provide the greatest amount of care giving to the elderly.
The average American woman can expect to spend 17 years caring for a child and 18 years caring for an elderly parent. Often, older people are the caregiver for their elderly spouses. Nearly one out of four U.S. households (23 percent or 22.4 million households) contains at least one caregiver for a relative or friend at least 50 years old. If the work of unpaid family caregivers was replaced by paid home care providers, it would cost an estimated $196 billion dollars.
Two additional caregiver issues in Fairfax County are grandparents raising grandchildren (kincare) and aging parents caring for adult children with developmental disabilities. Family care giving often has a major impact on the finances, health and well-being of the caregiver.
Actions
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Develop more respite for caregivers of older adults and adults with
disabilities, making it a continuum of available, accessible and
affordable options for our diverse community. Increase the number
of respite workers to meet these growing needs.
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Increase and promote caregiver training and support services.
- Increase caregiver awareness of technology that can enhance care and reduce stress (assistive technology, monitoring, and more).
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