You are one of 63 million.

ONE IN TEN US ADULTS ARE FAMILY CAREGIVERS

According to last year’s Caregiving in the US Report, 63 million Americans are family caregivers. That is a 45% increase over the past decade. Three in five caregivers are women. And, one third of caregivers are simultaneously raising children.

Family caregivers are doing a lot of lifting, most of the time without the help needed. As a result, caregiver burnout is a reality as are impacts to health, emotional well-being, finances, and other parts of life.

By 2030, roughly one in five Americans will be over the age of 65. The current paid caregiver workforce is shrinking, while our healthcare work force continues to contract. We are not ready for this.

Reflecting back to the start of my caregiving journey, I was the only one in my peer group caring for an older adult. With family caregivers numbering 63 million in the US alone, being the “only” is one thing caregivers are not.

Aside from the obvious, what do these facts mean?

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

If you are reading this, you’re probably someone else’s plan. You show up. You schedule appointments. You connect the dots providers don’t.

Who is planning for you?

I was so consumed by my caregiving journey, the future wasn’t a thought. There was no time for it. Unintentional planning started as my Mother’s condition worsen. Once I got her paperwork under way (health proxy, will, power of attorney, etc.) the thought and eventual action of, “I should do this,” became a reality.

Helen Medsger spent three decades in caregiving’s hardest rooms. She watched her father decline into Lewy body dementia without a single legal document in place. Imagine, no power of attorney, no advance directive, nothing.

She fought hospitals, banks, and long-term care facilities for basic authority over his care. She left her job and navigated bureaucratic walls while also grieving.

When her sister was later diagnosed with the same disease, Helen was ready. She completed every form early. She planned with intention. The Caregiving in the US Report tells us 47% of caregivers have begun planning for their own future care. This number is up from 42%

Helen’s experience and my own offer ways in which we can “care fully” in practice. Practicing care for your loved one alongside yourself is the way to stay ahead of things. You want the plan to be in effect, before the crisis hits.

I didn’t make a plan for myself until much later. If you are reading this and fall into that camp, this is your nudge. People who love you deserve the gift of not having to guess. And you deserve to have your wishes and plans honored. Below are a few resources to help.

STARTING YOUR PLAN

• To speak with a professional about planning, start with this resource from the Family Caregiver Alliance to learn about the types of attorneys that can help.

• One source that can help you better understand advance directives is this one from the NIH.

• Looking to educate others about caregiver challenges? The National Alliance for Caregiving has plenty of materials to share.

This issue of Care Fully is sponsored by 1440 Media. I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely been treading lightly when it comes to news these days. I use a few different sources. If you’re looking for a new way to receive news, click below. And, if not, that’s ok, still click. It helps me keep bringing Care Fully to your inbox. Thank you!

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