You Have Help in Caring for Your Elderly Family Member at Home

An ever growing number of older Americans with disabilities are receiving care in their homes or community settings, rather than nursing homes, with the care most often provided by family members. The problem is these family members often have to juggle multiple roles at home and in the work force, in addition to their roles caring for their elderly family members. There is help available in caring for your elderly family members at home, however.

According to the American Association for Retired People (AARP), caregiver supports and programs are available in every state in the nation. Many of these programs are new or recently expanded, at least in part because of the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which was enacted in 2000.

According to AARP, 44 million Americans provide unpaid assistance and support to elderly Americans, including some with disabilities. There are many new programs that have been developed across the country to provide help to those who are caring for their elderly family members at home.

AARP has found, and listed the findings in a report, that fewer and fewer people are paying to have their elderly family members with disabilities cared for. The reliance upon family members to care for elderly relatives has been increasing, however. While every state has programs to assist family members in caring for their elderly relatives, AARP especially found programs in eight states to be promising: Alabama; California; Georgia; Massachusetts; Minnesota; North Carolina; Pennsylvania; and Washington. AARP Director of Policy and Strategy John Rother mentioned the eight states.

"People want to stay in their homes, surround themselves with loved ones, and maintain a greater level of control as they age," Rother said in a news release on the official AARP website, www.aarp.org. He said such an arrangement has benefits economically and helps with the shortage of long-term healthcare providers. The problem is "caregivers need a greater level of support" to be successful. Rother said taking care of the caregivers is "smart public policy."