Social Security Administration Extends Benefits to Adults with Early-Onset Alzheimer's The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently added early-onset/younger onset Alzheimer's disease to the list of conditions under its Compassionate Allowance Initiative, giving those with the disease expedited access to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This is especially important because Alzheimer's disease, even in the early stages, often leaves individuals unable to work. For more information, visit Alzheimer's Association
Care for the Family Caregiver: A Place to Start Caregiving presents considerable challenges-physical, emotional and economic. There is no reason to suffer in silence. If you take away one thing from this booklet, remember, it's always OK to seek and ask for help. Getting help can enable you to become a better caregiver. This booklet is designed to give you an overview of the basic aspects and issues involved with caregiving. Download booklet (pdf)
The Health Consequences of Caregiving on Boomer Women
The International Longevity Center recently released "Caregiving in America: The Health Consequences on Boomer Women," a brief that reviews the physical and emotional health consequences of providing care to family members and friends. The brief provides statistics that show the negative health, financial and social consequences that women caregivers of the baby boom generation face now and will continue to face as the demand for family caregiving increases with the aging of the population. For more information, visit: International Longevity Center - USA
FCA Launches Innovations Clearinghouse on Family Caregiving
The National Center on Caregiving (NCC) at Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) recently launched the Innovations Clearinghouse on Family Caregiving, an online community promoting professional knowledge around families in their caregiving role. The Clearinghouse offers a diverse array of resources to help policymakers, professionals and family caregivers develop caregiver-friendly legislation or initiatives, implement tried and tested caregiver support programs or services, and access information that can enhance the delivery of quality care. The Clearinghouse is a repository of evidence-based practices, emerging and model programs, state and federal caregiving legislation, policy reports and initiatives, and more. Professionals are encouraged to participate in the online forum and to submit their own programs and reports for inclusion in the Clearinghouse using the online form available on the website.. For more information, visit: Innovations Clearinghouse on Family Caregiving
Article Highlights Silent Struggle of Being a Caregiver An article by Jonathan Rauch in the April 2010 issue of The Atlantic describes his experience caring for his aging father and the stress and struggles associated with caregiving. Rauch makes the point that millions of Americans are silently dealing with the challenges of caregiving, and he argues that the issue needs to become a public one and that resources and services need to be more readily available. To read "Letting Go of My Father," visit: The Atlantic
Family Caregivers of Veterans Survey The National Alliance for Caregiving is seeking participants for a new study of family caregivers of veterans from across the country. This study is intended to determine how caregivers of veterans are coping and what community and VA services, resources, and programs would best support and assist them with their caregiving activities. The study will use discussion groups, telephone interviews, and an Internet survey to evaluate the participants. Caregivers of veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War through the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will be included in the study. Cash incentives will be available for study participants and the veterans who refer them.
Are you a caregiver for someone with a disabling condition such as Alzheimer's? Do you feel overwhelmed? You may be putting your own health at risk. Take our Caregiver Stress Check, and then get resources that can help.
MetLife study of working caregivers
A new MetLife study—Working Caregivers and Employer Health Care Costs—focuses on how caregiving, employer health costs, and employer-sponsored wellness benefits intersect.The findings indicate that there is an 8% differential in increased health care costs between caregiving and non-caregiving employees, potentially costing U.S. employers an extra estimated $13.4 billion per year.
Often mischaracterized as an “older worker” issue, demographic trends indicate that a greater number of employees of all ages will assume the role of family caregiver with an increasingly older population. The results demonstrate a clear impact of eldercare burdens on the health issues facing employees ages 18 to 39, as much as those ages 50 and older.
Together, these results suggest that caregiving for an older relative is an important factor in the health, medical care expense, and productivity of employees across all age groups, and therefore in the health costs for employers.Employers can serve the best interests of their employees as well as those of their corporation by anticipating and responding to the challenges of eldercare for their employees. Working Caregiver and Employee Health Care Costs