MATURE MARKET HEADLINE 12/28/2000 Boomers Struggling to Care for Aging Parents Dr. David J. Demko, gerontologist Many of Medicare’s 35 million seniors turn to their family members for advice and help with health and financial decisions. Despite the important role they play, many adults with an aging parent lack basic information needed to advise on these matters, according a survey from Family Circle and the Kaiser Family Foundation. The survey also finds that many adult children face stresses in their daily lives as they care for aging parents. According to the survey, elder care takes a heavy toll on the American family. 37% are worried about juggling caregiving with other responsibilities. 25% about are worried about having enough time for nuclear family. 38% are worried about maintaining their own health. 34% of working women miss work due to caring for an aging parent. 24% of working men have missed work as a result of elder care. Caring for an aging parent also has an impact on the professional lives of adult children. “Not every senior needs help with health and financial decisions as they age, but when they do, they often turn to their children for advice. Understanding Medicare is a new challenge for baby boomers,” says Patricia Neuman, director of the Medicare Policy Project of the Kaiser Family Foundation. "Child-care issues were the most talked about stresses for families of the 20th century. We believe that caring for our aging parents is the new most-pressing stress of the 21st century and that's why we conducted this survey,” says Susan Ungaro, editor-in-chief of Family Circle magazine which reported the survey findings. "By identifying what worries adult children most and the health and social issues about which they are misinformed, we can help educate families on how to better deal with their elderly parents." The survey reveals that many adults with a parent age 65 or older—especially women—are actively involved in the routine lives of their aging parents, including helping make health and financial decisions. Ironically, the very people that elders turn to for advice are often ill-informed on eldercare issues. 43% say they know next to nothing about health insurance to help their parent. 45% could not identify their parent's regular doctor or health care provider. 30% do not know where their parent keeps important papers such as their Will. The majority of baby boomers also have concerns about their ability to care for themselves without being a burden on their families (73%), and their ability to pay for their own medical and other basic living expenses (72%) as they age. In order to better educate Boomers and Seniors about elder care issues and programs, the Family Circle / Kaiser Family Foundation has produced a consumer education guide. The consumer guide, titled "Talking with Your Parents About Medicare and Other Health Issues", is available free of charge to those who call: 1-877-42HEALTH. The Kaiser Family Foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, is a nonprofit, independent national health care philanthropy and is not associated with Kaiser Permanente or Kaiser Industries. Family Circle, America's best-selling women's magazine, provides smart, sensible solutions to life's everyday challenges for its 23 million readers. See related articles in the AgeVenture archives. Online Guide for Today's Eldercare Provider The Complete Eldercare Planner Eldercare Future Counts on New Census Category Eldercare Costs Average Worker $659,000 AgeVenture News Service, www.demko.com BACK TO TOP View More Headlines