Aging: The Times Are A-Changin’
Permalink +Sat, Feb 27, 2010, 6:22 pm // Guest writer
To add a comment, login or register.
By guest writer Nanette Davis, Ph.D.
Maybe you’ve heard about the Big Boom—that’s what demographers call the 44-64-year-old age group who are joining the ranks of the elderly over the next decade. Like generations before them, they’re forced to confront retirement and chronic health conditions. But unlike those earlier generations, they will undoubtedly face a much longer life expectancy—and quite likely, long-term care.
The longevity revolution is upon us. Prior to the 1800s, only one in ten persons could expect to live to age 65. Today, most will reach that age—and considerably beyond. In fact, those over 85 are now the fastest growing age group in the U.S.
Our technologically advanced society has moved from prolonging life to postponing death, potentially involving years of physical and emotional dependency among older persons. Are we ready for this avalanche of elderly citizens who will invariably demand a high level of social and medical services? Even more, the elderly will need family care that may extend for years.
Today, the number of family caregivers is estimated at 44 million people who provide unpaid care each year for one or more ill or disabled family members or friends. About 15 million of these caregivers are middle-age adults helping sick or disabled parents, and their numbers will grow as baby boomers and their parents age. Without the assistance of these family caregivers, many older people with disabilities would be forced into institutions. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and AARP point to the savings in public dollars when family caregivers help their sick relatives stay in their own home or that of a loved one.
Where does that leave the family caregiver? Half or more of elder caregivers juggle work, family and caregiving responsibilities, contributing to enormous emotional, physical and financial hardships. A 2007 Report by Evercare and the National Alliance for Caregiving found that nine of 10 caregivers have seen a decline in their own health while caring for an ailing loved one. And “caring for the caregiver” remains an underdeveloped concept among policymakers. Instead, the caregiving burden usually falls directly on the caregiver, who is most likely female, and her family.
Health policy analysts warn us that family caregiving entails the disruption of peoples’ lives. And caregivers remain a vulnerable population. Twenty percent of women caregivers under 65 have no health insurance, while 46% have chronic health conditions themselves. More than half of family caregivers live in households with less than $50,000 in annual income, curtailing the amount of paid help they can afford. My interviews of 60 women living in or near Whatcom County, who serve as family caregivers, opened my eyes to the situation in our community. Most caregivers reported they were the sole caregiver for their loved one—steady family help was hard to come by. They also indicated they were unaware of community support systems, at least in the early period of their caregiving. Lack of public information about community resources and shortage of respite care plagued many overworked caregivers. A few devoted all their life savings to caring for their elderly relatives. Some worked 24/7 to enhance the declining health and life of their aged loved one. Alas, a common result was that the overburdened caregiver became ill herself.
What are we doing in Whatcom County about this emerging elder caregiving crisis? Resources are available—but never enough. The Regional Council on Aging offers a wide selection of information on resources for the aged, but their referral lists for home care workers is often out of date, and lacks a grading system. Families need to know who comes recommended to assist their loved one, and who should be taken off the list. St. Joseph Hospital leads the way in bi-weekly support groups for caregivers, as well as grief counseling. Additionally, the hospital sponsors Adult Day Health Services for persons with dementia, an outstanding community service. Elder Service Providers, an umbrella organization, is a non-profit group that embraces a number of public and private groups serving the elderly. Still, respite care, which provides paid care to enable time out for caregivers, remains in desperately short supply.
Perhaps the brightest light on the horizon is that our community is making a strong effort to respond to the changing face of aging with housing, social supports and a wide array of programs. But is it enough to prevent the ailing elderly avalanche from burying us all?
Nanette is a long-time resident of Bellingham and teaches at Western Washington University in Bellingham. She received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University and completed a post-doctorate degree at Stanford University. Her scholarly work includes nine books and more than 100 articles. She is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Senior Scholar Award. Her latest book is Blessed is She: Elder Care~Women’s Stories of Choice, Challenge and Commitment. House of Harmony Press, 2008. It is available at local and national booksellers.
Related Links:
-> Click here for her website and other publications
Comments (1)
To add a comment, click here to login or register.
K.R.Kaur // Tue, Mar 02, 2010, 2:22 pm
Welcome Dr. Davis,
Enjoyed your article.
Taking care of elders in our homes often proves too difficult and putting elders in assisted living and nursing homes means that corporations suck up our family fortunes. In either case we wonder if aged people in our town and country receive good care.
Thriving Beyond Sustainability - a book review
Tue, Sep 07, 2010, 9:59 am // Guest writer
Eric Hirst reviews a new book by Andres R. Edwards, Thriving Beyond Sustainability: Pathworks to a Resillient Society0 comments
Lummi Ferry Petition is Linked
Wed, Sep 01, 2010, 2:40 pm // John Servais
A petition to the federal government online at skookum.us. It asks they step in to resolve the impasse between the Lummi and Whatcom County.2 comments; last on Sep 06, 2010
Lummi Island - The Price of Admission
Thu, Aug 26, 2010, 3:01 pm // Tip Johnson
Legal or Political Football?4 comments; last on Aug 27, 2010
Politics & Ice Water: Part 1 of ?
Sat, Aug 21, 2010, 8:07 am // Larry Horowitz
Politics is like a pool of ice water. When men jump in their balls shrivel up.5 comments; last on Aug 26, 2010
Lummi Island Softball
Fri, Aug 20, 2010, 3:26 pm // Tip Johnson
Islanders need a new game1 comments; last on Aug 24, 2010
Cantwell Confused
Wed, Aug 18, 2010, 4:07 pm // Tip Johnson
Ignoring the real problem3 comments; last on Aug 19, 2010
Election Results
Tue, Aug 17, 2010, 8:05 pm // John Servais
A running blog this election night0 comments
The Political Downzone of Responsible Land Use Planning
Mon, Aug 16, 2010, 12:55 pm // John Lesow
John Lesow rebuts Jack Petree's Herald oped article that strongly criticized county planning.30 comments; last on Aug 25, 2010
Herald runs a beautiful smear of Rossi
Mon, Aug 16, 2010, 12:03 pm // John Servais
Headline and article paint U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi very badly on final day ballots are mailed. The Bellingham Herald editors print a perfect smear.5 comments; last on Aug 18, 2010
Mail your ballot by Monday, 3 p.m.
Sat, Aug 14, 2010, 6:51 am // John Servais
Mailing even late Monday evening is gambling on its being counted. Mail in time.1 comments; last on Aug 14, 2010
Deceptive Herald article on planning
Fri, Aug 13, 2010, 8:39 am // John Servais
Am looking for a writer to rebut Jack Petree's BIAW propaganda article the Herald saw fit to print.3 comments; last on Aug 20, 2010
The Way I See It - Time to change
Wed, Aug 11, 2010, 4:00 pm // Ham Hayes
Fear and attack-rhetoric are leading us in the wrong direction.1 comments; last on Aug 12, 2010
Candidate choices of John Servais
Mon, Aug 09, 2010, 3:15 pm // John Servais
Personal opinion and recommendations from an independent liberal and progressive. ADDED more on Tuesday, Aug 10.3 comments; last on Aug 13, 2010
And in the 40th we have…..
Mon, Aug 09, 2010, 1:49 pm // Ham Hayes
Candidates, o candidates - where art thou? Monday Updates
2 comments; last on Aug 04, 2010
Where’s the Info?
Mon, Aug 09, 2010, 12:38 pm // Viki Warner
One week till the Primary, but no info?3 comments; last on Aug 09, 2010
Cooperation no substitute for small libraries
Sat, Aug 07, 2010, 8:18 am // John Servais
A library card from any Whatcom County library can now be used at any library in the county5 comments; last on Aug 15, 2010
40th District State Representative Pos 1 Primary - Tom Pasma’s Responses
Fri, Aug 06, 2010, 4:54 am // Ham Hayes
Tom answers our questions1 comments; last on Aug 08, 2010
40th District State Representative Pos 2 Primary - Rep. Jeff Morris’ Responses
Fri, Aug 06, 2010, 4:50 am // Ham Hayes
Jeff answers our questions0 comments
40th District State Representative Pos 1 Primary - Chuck Carrell’s Respones
Fri, Aug 06, 2010, 4:48 am // Ham Hayes
Chuck answers our questions0 comments
Act of War or Act of Congress?
Thu, Aug 05, 2010, 1:50 pm // Tip Johnson
Where, oh where, are our federal representatives?6 comments; last on Aug 06, 2010
A letter to the Bellingham City Council
Thu, Aug 05, 2010, 8:28 am // John Servais
We ask why the EIS extension was given to the Chuckanut Ridge developers when the city is negotiating to buy the property.0 comments
City bumbles on Chuckanut Ridge extension
Wed, Aug 04, 2010, 8:12 am // John Servais
Bellingham Planning Department is giving quiet extensions to the Chuckanut Ridge developer - propping up the property value.1 comments; last on Aug 04, 2010
Chuckanut Ridge Development Gets Extension
Mon, Aug 02, 2010, 1:30 pm // John Servais
Bellingham Planning Department gave a three month extension, till Oct 29, to Greenbriar2 comments; last on Aug 02, 2010
John Powers death, in the words of a friend
Sat, Jul 31, 2010, 9:29 pm // John Servais
John Powers died yesterday. Ted expresses his remembrance.0 comments
Raising a Village: Can the Bellingham Cooperative School be saved?
Fri, Jul 30, 2010, 10:54 am // Kamalla Rose Kaur
Mourning the loss of a valuable community asset
2 comments; last on Aug 01, 2010
The Way I See It - Mud resurrected
Wed, Jul 28, 2010, 4:39 am // Ham Hayes
It is time we gave “mud” back its good name.
0 comments
The Way I See It - En Garde
Wed, Jul 21, 2010, 4:42 am // Ham Hayes
“We have lots of robberies.” As I reported last week, that was the apocalyptic statement by the investigating officer to our recent plight in St.…0 comments
Greed: The Shadowy So-called Non-profit Taecan
Mon, Jul 19, 2010, 11:53 am // Tip Johnson
For-Profit Non-Profits - Pulling the Plug on Services0 comments
The Forsaken Constituents of Lummi Island
Mon, Jul 19, 2010, 11:20 am // Tip Johnson
Taxation without representation3 comments; last on Jul 28, 2010
Libraries are still very valuable
Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 8:18 pm // John Servais
The New Spice Man tells us why libraries are useful and valuable. This applies to all libraries.0 comments
Three Port Executive Finalists Withdraw
Fri, Jul 16, 2010, 1:30 pm // John Servais
In a surprise development, the Port of Bellingham is starting over again in their search for an executive director. Position now vacant for over a…1 comments; last on Jul 18, 2010
NwCitizen 1995 to 2008
Early Northwest CitizenNew
Citizen TedSkookum.us
WikiLeaks.org
Current Interest
Auditor election pageSkookum.us
WA State Elections
Local
Bellingham HeraldBham Politics & Economics
Bob Sanders
Carl Weimer
Cascadia Weekly
Citizen Ted
Ferndale R-J
Foothills Gazette
John Watts
KGMI
Latte Republic
Lynden Tribune
Mainstreampolitics
Northern Light
Northwest Review
Sam Taylor
Skookum.us
Twilight Zoning
Wally Wonders
Washington Outsiders
Western Front - WWU
Whatcom Watch
Local causes
Bham CofC political blogChuckanut Mountains
Citizens of Bellingham
City Club of Bham
Conservation NW
Cordata & Meridian
Futurewise - Whatcom
Lake Whatcom
N. Cascades Audubon
N. Sound Conservancy
Neighborhood Schools Coalition
No Leaky Buckets
NW Holocaust Center
RE Sources
Skookum.us
Transition Whatcom
WA Conservation Voters
Local Leisure
Adventures NWEntertainment NNW
Climate & Weather
Climate AuditWatts Up With That?
Weather by Cliff Mass
Cascadia
Crosscut SeattleJoel Connelly
Orcinus
Portland Indy Media
Seattle Indy Media
Washington Votes
Leisure
Am Cup - GGYC viewAm Cup legal fight
Worth checking out
Al-Jazeera onlineAlaska Dispatch
AlterNet.org
Antiwar.com
Arab News
Asia Times
Atlantic, The
Buzz Flash
Common Dreams
counterpunch
Daily Beast, The
Daily Kos
Daily Mirror
Drudge Report
FiveThirtyEight
Foreign Policy in Focus
Guardian Unlimited
Gulf News
Haaretz
Huffington Post
Innocence Project, The
Intrnational Herald Tribune
James Fallows
Jerusalem Post
Juan Cole
Le Diplo
Media Matters
Middle East Times
MoveOn.org
Nation, The
New American Century
News Trust
NMFA
numbers
Online Journal
Palestine Daily
Palestine News
Personal bio info
Politico
Progressive Review
Project Vote Smart
Reuters
Sea Shepherd
Slate
Talking Points Memo
The Onion
Tom Paine.com
truthout
War and Piece
WikiLeaks.org
ynetnews.com
Governments
Auditor election pageBellingham
Bham - PFD
Skagit County
The White House
WA State Access
WA State Elections
WA State Legislature
Whatcom Auditor
Whatcom County
Other - for whatever
BushFlash.comChickehhawks
Doonesbury
George Bush
Info Clearing House
Michael Moore
Reality News
The Crisis Papers
Third World Traveler
Unity08
Election 2009
- Candidate Forum - video- Mike McAuley endorsement
Bham #6 - Catherine Chambers
Bham #6 - Michael Lilliquist
Bham At Large - Orphalee
Bham At Large - Seth
County #1 - Dan McShane
County #1 - Kathy Kershner
County #2 - Ken Mann
County #2 - Mary B Teigrob
County #3 - Carl Weimer
County #3 - Michelle Luke
County At Large - Bill
County At Large - Laurie
Port #1 - John Blethen
Port #1 - Scott Walker
Port #2 - Doug Smith
Port #2 - Mike McAuley
2010 Winter Olympics
Amy Goodman InterrogationNo 2010 Olympics
No women ski jumpers
Olympics muzzle free speech
Olympics Resistance Network
Page of Links
Spectacle Vancouver
Zirin on Olympics
Less active
Eye on WhatcomPost-Oklahoman Confessions
The American Telegraph
Quiet, offline or dead
David HackworthGitmo prisoner 345
Mega Awesome
Not in my county
Parkenfarker
Pro-Whatcom