Caring for an Aging America

A new poll shows that caring for an elderly or sick spouse can be one of the most stressful things anyone ever has to do. Only 14% of all family caregivers are caring for a spouse. However, they report feeling more stress than the majority who care for aging parents. Jenny Benz is a senior researcher at the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which conducted the poll. “Caregivers are most likely to be emotionally and financially stressed when they are providing care to their spouse as opposed to a parent or an in-law.” Benz says Americans of all political persuasions favor tax breaks for long-term care. “We found broad bipartisan support for tax breaks to encourage savings for long term care; about 80% of Americans favor that type of policy proposal.” More than half of all respondents to the poll over age 40 are currently caring for a loved one, adds Benz. “About 60% have some experience either giving care, a recipient of care or someone who is providing financially for someone else’s long-term care.” A smaller percentage of respondents said they are prepared to care for a loved one, concludes Benz. “We found that only three in ten people who think that it is quit likely that they are going to be providing care to someone in their family in the next five years, feel prepared to take on that job.” Over all, 80% of all caregivers participating in the poll call it a positive experience.