Downturn puts ‘chokehold’ on caregivers
June 9th, 2009From the New York Times:
A national survey finds that the economic crisis has dealt a heavy blow to the estimated 44 million Americans who care for an aging or disabled relative or spouse.
One in six caregivers surveyed by the National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare, a division of the UnitedHealth Group, said they had lost a job during the downturn. Some 21 percent said they had to share housing with family members to save money. At the same time, government and non-profit organizations that usually provide relief are being cut in the downturn.
Teresa Denk, 59, who provides constant care for her 92-year-old father in Rainbow City, AL, said she is unable to work fulltime while caring for her father. The money she could make working part-time would not be enough to pay for home care. Ms. Denk said, “Agencies charge a minimum of $15 an hour … I might be able to earn $8 to $10 an hour.”
See also:
Most carers ‘hit breaking point’ — BBC News
Earlier post here.
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June 13th, 2009 at 6:13 am
One thing that I think might help in some circumstances is if siblings recognize that if caregiving responsibilities largely fall to one person, that that person should be positioned to receive a larger portion of the inheritance – if available.