What America ’s Aging Population Means for Family Caregivers Like Me

“Sir, may I know your daughter’s name?” The customer service representative from the energy company was asking my father this question for the third time. We were trying to transfer the ownership of his account to me, but for the third time, he couldn’t answer. This was a defining moment in our journey with Alzheimer’s. After five years of living with my father’s diagnosis, I had gradually taken over almost every aspect of his life management. But this was the first time I questioned if he could remember me. The account still hasn’t been changed to my name, a stark reminder of the daily reality for those caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, and more broadly the 54 million Americans who care for aging relatives. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The United States is on the brink of a silver tsunami. By 2030, 24 million people will require long-term care—about double the number who need it today—and our healthcare system is ill-equipped to support them all. Family members and their communities—children, spouses, grandchildren, cousins, and friends—will need to fill the gap. But our system isn’t designed to support this shift in household decision-making. To give seniors a better quality of life, we’ll need to make a societal shift across government, businesses and within our own families. And practical, accessible technology is the glue that will hold it all together. Read More: Wh...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized freelance society Source Type: news