 | More than 1/4 of the adult population has provided care for
a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member, or friend during the
past year. |
| Caregiving is no longer predominately a women's issue - Men
make up 44% of the caregiving population. |
| The value of the services family caregivers provide for free is
estimated to be $196 billion a year. |
| Virtually 1/2 of the US population has a chronic condition - of
these, 41 million were limited in their daily activities - 12 million
are unable to go to school, to work, or to live independently. |
| People over 85 years of age are the fastest growing segment of the
population - half of them need some help with personal care. |
| Elderly caregivers, with a history of chronic illness themselves who
are experiencing caregiving related stress, have a 63% higher mortality
rate than their non-caregiving peers. |
| The pool of family caregivers is dwindling - in 1990 there were 11
potential caregivers for each person needing care - in 2050 that ratio
will be 4:1. |
| 61% of intense family caregivers (those providing at least 21 hours
of care a week) have suffered from depression. |
| Heavy-duty caregivers, especially spousal caregivers, do not get
consistant help from other family members - one study has shown that as
many as 3/4 of these caregivers are going it alone. |
| Approximately 80% of home care services are provided by family
caregivers. |
| A recent study calculated that American businesses lose between $11
- 29 billion each year due to employees' need to care for loved
ones 50 years & older. |
| 59% of the adult population either is or expects to be a family
caregiver. |
| A new study estimates the value of unpaid caregiving for ailing
adults at $200 billion - ($32 billion for home health care & $83
billion for nursing home care) and is roughly equivalent to 1/5 of the
nation's total annual health care costs. |
