CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816
Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com
Golden, Colorado – November 4, 2019
The Caring Generation® Radio Show Costs of Caring for Elderly Parents
Golden CO- Caregiving expert, Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation radio program for caregivers and aging adults this coming Wednesday, November 6, on the Bold Brave Media Global Network. The program airs live at 9 p.m. EST. The Caring Generation® originally aired from 2009 to 2011 on 630 KHOW-AM in Denver, Colorado.
The caregiving topic for this week's program answers the concern about Costs of Caring for Elderly Parents. Special guest Liza Marquez of the American Patriot Service Corporation shares information about the Veterans Aid and Attendance Program.
The costs of caring for elderly parents include obvious hard costs and not so obvious costs. The obvious costs are costs that caregivers write checks for—costs of in-home care services, assisted living, in addition to traditional costs for health insurance, medical care, prescription drugs, over the counter medicines, and so on.
There are the costs of the effect on the family which are the higher costs. These costs include health, well-being, attempting to balance life and career, and the less talked about reality that family caregivers represent 500 billion dollars in unpaid care. If it were not for family members, more elderly parents and loved ones would have no choice but to move to nursing homes.
Family unpaid care has a significant and far-reaching effect. The primary person that keeps a spouse out of a nursing home is the healthy spouse. The second person helping an elderly parent remain at home is a daughter. The ties between mothers and daughters are significant.
For men, having a wife reduces the likelihood of nursing home placement because the wife is the main caregiver. The reverse is not true. For women, having a husband does not reduce the likelihood of nursing home placement.
The presence of a husband for a wife does not reduce the likelihood of nursing home placement because wives are the main caregivers for husbands – who are usually older and in poorer health. Husbands more often place wives in nursing homes because they physically are unable to care for the wife, especially if adult children are not available to provide support. In the absence of having a wife because of death, sons are the main supports to help fathers stay at home and out of nursing homes.
In 2013 the value of unpaid family caregivers was $470 billion, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute. More than the cost of paid in-home care. More than Medicaid spending. The $470 billion value of family caregiver assistance almost matched the sales of the world's largest company—Wal-Mart.
About 45% of the $470 or about $220 billion was the value of family caregiver assistance to loved ones with memory loss. The reality is—that family caregivers are priceless not only to elderly family members – but to society.
The elephant in the room is the question of why society does not talk about caregiving being a life transition? If more conversations occurred, fewer family caregivers would be shocked when they unexpectedly become caregivers for elderly parents.
The healthcare system must also be more proactive in communicating the long term effects of health diagnosis. Patient education and engagement are critical to balance the looming caregiver crises as more and more individuals age.
Joining The Caring Generation® radio program is a way everyone to become comfortable talking and laughing about aging, health, caregiving, and everything in between. There are many things to learn about life and being a caregiver. Pamela's approach to caregiving is authentic and light-hearted. She believes that serious subjects benefit from humor and laughter.
Make plans to join Pamela D. Wilson, caregiving expert and the host of The Caring Generation® radio at 6 p.m. Pacific, 7 p.m. Mountain, 8 p.m. Central, and 9 p.m. Eastern. Replays of the weekly programs are available in podcast format with transcripts on Pamela's website. More information about online support and online courses for caregivers is available on Pamela's website.
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Check Out Podcast Replays of The Caring Generation® Radio Program for Caregivers and Aging Adults HERE
The podcast replays are great to share with family, friends, social groups, and the workplace. Listening to the Caring Generation podcasts are a great alternative for weekly book clubs. The Podcast replays are also an educational activity used at senior centers, independent living, and assisted living communities to support aging adults and family caregivers who want to become more informed about health, well-being, caregiving, and related issues.
Pamela D. Wilson, MS, BS/BA, CG, CSA is a national caregiving expert, advocate and speaker. More than 20 years of experience as a direct service provider in the roles of a court-appointed guardian, power of attorney, and care manager led to programs supporting family caregivers and aging adults who want to be proactive about health, well-being, and caregiving. Wilson provides education and support for consumers and corporations interested in supporting employees who are working caregivers. To carry out her mission, Wilson partners with companies passionate about connecting with the caregiving marketing through digital and content marketing. Her mission to reach caregivers worldwide is accomplished through social media channels of Facebook, YouTube, Linked In, Instagram, Caregiving TV on Roku, and The Caring Generation® radio on Internet radio. She may be reached at 303-810-1816 or through her website.