But what about the caregivers? The people who care for those requiring assistance with their daily activities such as eating, bathing and dressing?
Caregivers are the unsung heroes of long-term care. They provide essential physical, emotional, and logistical support to loved ones - often at a great personal cost.
Nearly 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. are family caregivers, supporting loved ones who need assistance with their activities of daily living or who have cognitive issues. These caregivers are often spouses or children, and they are predominantly female. Caregiver tasks include daily living support, managing medications, providing companionship and financial responsibilities.
The challenges caregivers face is taxing. They often include emotional strain, where the constant demands of caregiving can lead to anxiety, stress and depression. Balancing caregiving with family responsibilities often causes many caregivers to sacrifice their own careers and salary.
Support services for caregivers vary widely across the U.S. affecting the quality of life and care outcomes. There have been recent efforts to integrate caregivers into healthcare teams and provide training, respite care, financial support and reduce caregiver burden.
Caregivers form the foundation of providing long-term care. Their contributions are invaluable, yet their needs are often overlooked. Recognizing, supporting, and empowering caregivers is not just a compassionate effort but rather is essential for a sustainable and healthy long-term care system.
Supporting caregivers takes resources such as money. There are substantial strains on our nation's long-term care system, Medicare and Medicaid. LTC Insurance helps inject fresh money and resources - helping caregivers provide better care.