Friday, July 16, 2010

A Tidal Wave of Elder Care is Ready to Hit

There are 80 million baby boomers starting to turn 65 in 2011! Yes, we are at the tip of the iceberg of elder care or extended chronic care that is expected to last longer than 90 days.

People of any age can need long-term care. Younger people need it due to car or sporting accidents, MS, brain tumors, aneurysms and even strokes--1/4 of the people in the U.S. who have a stroke every year are under 65! In fact, 42% of people needing long-term care today are under age 65! Many of these people are being cared for by family members, and the lifestyle of that family is never the same after the accident, stroke or other disabling condition that caused the long-term care need.

Many people have had to quit their jobs to take care of a loved one. Employers have to train new employees. This costs time and money! The bottom line is, unexpected caregiving puts a tremendous strain on the families physical, emotional, and financial well-being.