Family Caregiving in America

Although caregiving is nothing new to American culture, its significance for the delivery of healthcare in this country is greater than ever before. Already, it is estimated that family caregivers provide unpaid services valued at $306 billion a year, an amount comparable to Medicare spending in 2004. And although these individuals are usually untrained for the tasks they perform, family and friends now provide about 80 percent of all long-term care services in this country. Read more

 

Recipients of Family Caregiving

As our population ages, a growing number of American adults will serve as caregivers for loved ones who are disabled, frail, or suffering from a chronic condition. In fact, this burgeoning army of family caregivers has become an essential component of the nation's health care system, providing more services in the home – free of charge – than the federal government provides in all settings combined. Read more

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Facts At a Glance

According to the landmark report Chronic Care in America published by the Institute for Health and Aging at the University of California, San Francisco, more than half of all adult Americans have a chronic condition. Of these, as many as 412 million are limited in their daily activities and, therefore, likely to need some assistance from family members or friends. Moreover, another 12 million who are unable to live independently require ongoing care either through family caregivers or an institutional setting. Read more