Alzheimer's Speaks host Lori La Bey joins Suzanne to talk about family caregiver statistics on Thanksgiving weekend. There are close to 60 million family caregivers in the United States. One in five provide unpaid care, 64% are women, 50% spend an average of 20 hours per week in caregiving, while 20% spend an average of 50 hours per week in caregiving. Family caregivers are involved in 80% of major decisions, and 75% are the primary Power of Attorney in financial, legal, and healthcare matters.

Lori says, "People don't realize the cost and where it all draws from. Some caregivers move into a loved one's house, or some have them move into their home. Some are transporting back and forth and you've got time and mileage, wear and tear on the car, but you are picking up prescriptions and a lot of times paying for those. Same with groceries. There can be legal things. There are so many things that you end up paying for. You just pick it up because it's sometimes less work than trying to get reimbursed for it."

Learn more:
* Alzheimer's Speaks: https://alzheimersspeaks.com

Answers for Elders is part of the SeniorResource Network: https://www.seniorresource.com/

 

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