scholarly journals POLICY SERIES: NEW FAMILY CAREGIVING RESEARCH TO SUPPORT POLICY AND PRACTICE CHANGE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S747-S747
Author(s):  
Jean C Accius ◽  
Heather Young
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Wound Care ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
The United States ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
New Family

Abstract Families are the most important source of support to older adults. Today, there is growing recognition of the escalating complexity of family caregiving. Family caregivers are increasingly carrying out health-related tasks with little training or preparation, as well as continuing to provide the majority of long-term services and supports (LTSS) at home. Providing care in the context of rapidly changing health care and LTSS systems can have a significant impact on the family members who provide care and take a significant toll, emotionally, physically, and financially. Studies commonly show that family caregivers report learning complex tasks by trial and error and worry about making a mistake. This symposium highlights new caregiving research from the AARP Public Policy Institute. The first paper will present new research on the increasing complexity of the challenges facing family caregivers, such as managing multiple medications, wound care, and interaction with the health care system. The second paper will present new data on the economic value of the unpaid contributions of family caregivers in the United States. The third paper will examine the growing importance of family caregiving on the public policy agenda, and describe recent policy developments that recognize and explicitly support caregiving families. Recommendations for policy and practice change to address caregiving needs will be examined in all papers. Our discussant will identify key implications from this research for policymakers and practitioners, and potential drivers for developing a better system of family support at the federal and state levels.

scholarly journals ARE POLICY AND PRACTICE CHANGE TO SUPPORT FAMILY CAREGIVERS ON THE RISE?

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S748-S748
Author(s):  
Lynn F Feinberg
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
The Road ◽  
Culture Of Care ◽  
Centered Care ◽  
Family Centered ◽  
Support Family

Abstract The challenges and pressures of family caregiving for older relatives or friends are a reality of daily life. Better recognition of and support for family caregivers has emerged as a national health, economic and social priority that can no longer be ignored. Unlike previous generations, most (60%) family caregivers work at a paying job today in addition to caring for older relatives with a serious health condition or disability. Building a better system of care for older adults means changes in workplaces as well as health care and LTSS settings. This paper presents an analysis of the key challenges that family caregivers face, and highlights policy developments and practice change at the federal and state levels since 2015. The presentation addresses the importance of person- and family-centered care in everyday practice, and discusses the road ahead to change the culture of care.

Transnational Caregiving: Part 1, Caring for Family Relations Across Nations

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Erica Dhar
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Family Relations ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Complex Issue ◽  
Elderly Parents ◽  
Cultural Perspectives ◽  
Large Numbers

This article concerns how globalization and the aging of the world’s population are affecting the already complex issue of intergenerational transnational caregiving. Globalization has caused an increase in workforce mobility with large numbers of individuals seeking employment overseas. This, coupled with increased longevity globally, has resulted in many workers leaving their elderly parents in need of care in their home countries. This has spawned caregiving across national borders, or caring for family relations across nations. Currently in the United States, not enough emphasis is given to family caregiving. Data compiled by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving estimate the economic value for this group of family caregivers in 2007 to be $375 billion, accounting for 34–52 million family caregivers per given year. This does not include those families who are transnational caregivers. The seminal work in this emerging field has been done by social anthropologists Loretta Baldassar, Cora Velekoop Baldock, and Raelene Wilding, who have defined the components of transnational caregiving based on an ethnographic study using qualitative data to study nine immigrant communities in Western Australia. Although their research focused on caregiving from a distance, additional work has been added to the discussion by introducing the element of “care drain” and further cultural perspectives. Therefore, this research is an exploratory study on intergenerational transnational caregiving within the context of the changing world and its demographics. Within the context of globalization and global aging, the following questions are addressed: What is the significance of family caregiving? What is a transnational? How has technology changed “transnationalism” today? What are the elements that comprise transnational caregiving? How does culture play a role in transnational caregiving? What are some of the national initiatives undertaken by governments to aid in workforce issues and recognition of caregiving organizations? By exploring these questions, it is hoped that there will be a better understanding of transnational caregiving and its relevance in all societies.

scholarly journals The Impacts of Discrimination and Filial Caregivers’ Age on Aspects of Physical Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 360-360
Author(s):  
Barbara Hodgdon ◽  
Jen Wong
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
The United States ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Late Adulthood ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Filial caregivers (e.g., individuals caring for a parent or parent-in-law) are a part of the growing number of family caregivers in midlife and late adulthood. The responsibilities that filial caregivers navigate in midlife and late adulthood may expose them to multiple types of discrimination that may decrease their physical health, though this relationship has been understudied. As numbers of family caregivers grow, it is important to examine the potential vulnerability of younger and older filial caregivers’ physical health in the context of discrimination. Informed by the life course perspective, this study compares the physical health of younger (aged 34-64) and older (aged 64-74) filial caregivers who experience discrimination. Filial caregivers (N=270; Mage=53; SD=9.37) from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS-II) Survey reported on demographics, family caregiving, daily discrimination, self-rated physical health, and chronic conditions via questionnaires and phone interviews. Regression analyses showed no differences between younger and older adults’ self-rated physical health or average chronic conditions. However, moderation analyses revealed that younger filial caregivers who experienced greater discrimination reported poorer self-rated physical health than their older counter parts as well as younger and older filial caregivers who experienced less discrimination. Additionally, younger caregivers with greater discrimination exposure exhibited more number of chronic conditions as compared to other caregivers. The study results highlight the impact of the intersection between filial caregivers’ age and discrimination on physical health. Findings have the potential to inform programs that could promote the health of filial caregivers in the face of discrimination.

scholarly journals WORK-RELATED OPPORTUNITY COSTS OF PROVIDING UNPAID FAMILY CARE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S135-S135
Author(s):  
Stipica Mudrazija
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Family Care ◽  
National Study ◽  
Nursing Facilities ◽  
Unpaid Care ◽  
Work Related ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Older Americans living in the community who need help with basic activities of daily living overwhelmingly rely on unpaid care provided most commonly by working-age family members. Because unpaid family care limits the demand for nursing facilities and reduces expenses paid by Medicaid and other government programs, previous estimates of its economic value have mostly focused on estimating the benefits of unpaid family care. However, to assess accurately the overall economic value of unpaid family care and define better the scope for policy intervention, it is also important to account for the costs of such care, yet our knowledge of their magnitude remains limited. This study assesses the impact of unpaid family caregiving on the likelihood of working and hours worked for caregivers, and calculates the related cost of forgone earnings today and in 2050. To do so, it matches family caregivers from the National Study of Caregiving with non-caregivers from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, and uses projections from the Urban Institute’s DYNASIM microsimulation model to inform calculations of future costs of foregone earnings. Results suggest that the cost of foregone earnings attributable to caregiving is currently about $67 billion. By mid-century, it will likely more than double, outpacing the growth of disabled older population as the share of better-educated caregivers with higher earning capacity increases. Policymakers can use these results to inform their current and future policy efforts aimed at assisting family caregivers who are facing the challenge of balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.

scholarly journals THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF FAMILY CAREGIVING: NEW NATIONAL ESTIMATES AND STATE VARIATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S748-S748
Author(s):  
Ari Houser ◽  
Ari Houser
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregiving ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
The United States ◽  
Virgin Islands ◽  
State Variation ◽  
National Estimates ◽  
Total Economic Value ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Services And Supports

Abstract The economic value of family caregiving, by any measure, dwarfs actual expenditures on formal long-term services and supports (LTSS). This presentation discusses new estimates of the number of caregivers, intensity of caregiving, and the total economic value of family caregiving in 2017 in the United States, and in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, based on a meta-analysis of recent nationally representative surveys of family caregivers. Previous analyses of this type have found that the total economic value of family caregiving has increased steadily from $350 billion in 2005 to $470 billion in 2013. State variation in the incidence, intensity, and economic value of caregiving will be discussed, and key predictors of this variation will be identified.

Family Caregiving and the Intergenerational Transmission of Poverty

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 629-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Social Security ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Intergenerational Transmission ◽  
Family Caregiving ◽  
The United States ◽  
Retirement Savings ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Retirement Benefits ◽  
Lifetime Earnings ◽  
The Impact

The United States relies on uncompensated family caregivers to provide most of the long-term care required by older adults as they age. But such care comes at a significant financial cost to these caregivers in the form of lower lifetime earnings and diminished (or even no) Social Security retirement benefits, ineligibility for Medicare coverage of their healthcare costs, and minimal retirement savings. To reduce the impact of uncompensated caregiving on the intergenerational transmission of poverty, this paper discusses three possible mechanisms of compensating family caregivers: public payments, deemed wage credits under Social Security, and income tax incentives.

scholarly journals Societal perceptions of caregivers linked to culture across 20 countries: Evidence from a 10-billion-word database

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0251161
Author(s):  
Reuben Ng ◽  
Nicole Indran
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
The United States ◽  
Online Media ◽  
Aging Parents ◽  
Culturally Sensitive Interventions ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
Care Deficit

Caregivers play an indispensable role in society. In 2017, 41 million family caregivers in the United States provided approximately 34 billion hours of care to their aging parents, spouses, partners and friends. The estimated economic value of their unpaid contributions amounted to $470 billion. Despite their invaluable contributions, caregivers often operate in a reality of inadequate social support. Little is known about the factors linked to the societal perceptions of caregivers, and our study seeks to contribute by filling this gap. Importantly, whether society honors or stigmatizes caregivers is critical as it could impact caregiving decisions and either exacerbate or ameliorate caregiver burden. We leveraged an online media database of 10 billion words collated from over 28 million articles, across 20 countries, to analyze societal perceptions of caregivers. Of the 20 countries, 18 evidenced neutral to positive perceptions of caregivers. Bangladesh and Ghana had the most positive perceptions, while Sri Lanka and Tanzania had the most negative perceptions. Aging demographics and culture (individualism, masculinity and uncertainty avoidance) were significantly associated with perceptions of caregivers. Findings suggest that positive perceptions of caregivers can be better cultivated when caring is lauded as a virtuous act that aids in reducing the care deficit. This study is among the first to analyze the societal perceptions of caregivers globally, and lays the groundwork to design culturally sensitive interventions that increase society’s appreciation for caregivers.

scholarly journals Oncology Patients’ Experiences With Novel Electronic Patient Portals to Support Care and Treatment: Qualitative Study With Early Users and Nonusers of Portals in Alberta, Canada (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda D Santos ◽  
Vera Caine ◽  
Paula J Robson ◽  
Linda Watson ◽  
Jacob C Easaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
The United States ◽  
Patient Portal ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patient Portals ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Oncology Patients

BACKGROUND With the current proliferation of clinical information technologies internationally, patient portals are increasingly being adopted in health care. Research, conducted mostly in the United States, shows that oncology patients have a keen interest in portals to gain access to and track comprehensive personal health information. In Canada, patient portals are relatively new and research into their use and effects is currently emerging. There is a need to understand oncology patients’ experiences of using eHealth tools and to ground these experiences in local sociopolitical contexts of technology implementation, while seeking to devise strategies to enhance portal benefits. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of oncology patients and their family caregivers when using electronic patient portals to support their health care needs. We focused on how Alberta’s unique, 2-portal context shapes experiences of early portal adopters and nonadopters, in anticipation of a province-wide rollout of a clinical information system in oncology facilities. METHODS This qualitative descriptive study employed individual semistructured interviews and demographic surveys with 11 participants. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed thematically. The study was approved by the University of Alberta Human Research Ethics Board. RESULTS Participants currently living with nonactive cancer discussed an online patient portal as one among many tools (including the internet, phone, videoconferencing, print-out reports) available to make sense of their diagnosis and treatment, maintain connections with health care providers, and engage with information. In the Fall of 2020, most participants had access to 1 of 2 of Alberta’s patient portals and identified ways in which this portal was supportive (or not) of their ongoing health care needs. Four major themes, reflecting the participants’ broader concerns within which the portal use was occurring, were generated from the data: (1) experiencing doubt and the desire for transparency; (2) seeking to become an informed and active member of the health care team; (3) encountering complexity; and (4) emphasizing the importance of the patient–provider relationship. CONCLUSIONS Although people diagnosed with cancer and their family caregivers considered an online patient portal as beneficial, they identified several areas that limit how portals support their oncology care. Providers of health care portals are invited to recognize these limitations and work toward addressing them.

POVERTY ALLEVIATION THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES: A FRAMEWORK FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE

2021 ◽  
pp. 2150014
Author(s):  
LUTISHA S VICKERIE ◽  
KYLE E MCCULLERS ◽  
JEFFREY A ROBINSON
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Environments ◽  
Opportunity Gaps

The traditional macroeconomic approach to poverty alleviation in neighborhoods and communities is to use housing development and job-creation programs to address the income and the opportunity gaps. Entrepreneurship is a much less used poverty alleviation strategy that, in our estimation, can have a significant effect in favorable policy environments. After a brief literature review, we highlight policy approaches that use entrepreneurship as a poverty alleviation strategy. We present several case studies from the United States as evidence of how public policy can empower an entrepreneurial ecosystem to support the self-employed and other low-income entrepreneurs. We conclude with a framework for how public policy can alleviate poverty through entrepreneurship that is generalizable in other contexts.

Expenditures for Health Care among Older, Single Women in the United States: Impact on Economic Status and Implications for Public Policy

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta W. Walsh ◽  
Jane Kolodinsky
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Health Care Policy ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Single Women ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Consumer Expenditure ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Income And Price Elasticities

Expenditure patterns, income and price elasticities of older, single women in three income classifications are compared with a similar sample of men, using data from the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey. Elasticities are estimated based on a complete demand system using Frisch’s (1959) money flexibility parameter, incorporating the price of time (wage rate) for the samples. Results suggest that women’s inability to adjust spending to price increases contributed to a decline in their standard of living, particularly as it affects consumption of health care. Implications for public policy point to a targeted approach to the current national health care policy debate, in recognition of the particularly adverse effects of the status quo on older, single women.

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