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Women contribute most of the caregiving time and nearly two-thirds are employed either full or part time. Many are sandwiched between providing care for elderly parents and raising children. Caregivers spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care; 20% of caregivers spend 40 hours per week as caregivers. Caregiving can last less than a year to more than 40 years. The values and costs of caregiving are staggering. Caregivers have been described as the nation's invisible welfare system. If the informal caregiving provided by families and friends had to be replaced with paid services, the annual cost would reach nearly $200 billion dollars. Yet the loss of productivity to US businesses, due to caregiving is estimated at $11.4 billion each year. The physical costs are also significant. More than 50% are clinically depressed as a result of caregiving. Caregivers use prescription drugs for depression, anxiety and insomnia 2-3 times more often than the rest of the population. Elderly spousal caregivers have a 63% higher risk of dying early than the spousal non-caregivers. In two surveys (Spring 2004), county faculty identified specific aspects of caregiving for which they need training. Because caregiving is a complex issue that encompasses many areas this training requires a multi-disciplinary approach. Therefore, three focus teams have collaborated to provide the in-depth, interdisciplinary training needed for this topic. The purpose of this webpage is to prepare caregivers and their families as well as county extension educators to address the many aspects of caregiving. |
 Extension Publications About Caregiving Stop, Look, and Listen: Tips for Talking to Older Adults Balancing Work and Caregiving: An Employer's Guide Balancing Work and Caregiving: Tips for Employees Caregiver's Contacts: How to Get the Help You Need Guidelines for Caregivers: Burdens and Stresses Proper Handwashing for Caregivers Long-Term Care: Places to Call Home Disaster Planning Tips for Caregivers of the Elderly and People with Disabilities Final Wishes: End of Life Decisions
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This in-service training is funded by Florida Cooperative Extension Service. EEO