LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Commonwealth is experiencing a caregiving emergency, with over 600,000 Kentucky families independently caring for their loved ones, according to AARP. At least, 67% of family caregivers struggle to balance their jobs with caregiving duties. National caregiving organization, Senior Helpers, offers affordable, in-home options for families needing an extra hand.
Debbie Davis is a Louisville resident that sought the help from Senior Helpers for her mother, Eleanor, who will be 101 next month.
“We always assumed Mom would live independently because she was so healthy,” Davis said. “Walking a mile and a half at 98. She came down with an illness and was no longer able to live by herself.”
Davis said her mother did not want to be a burden on her loved ones.
“To have to admit that she had to stay with us was not an easy thing for her to do,” Davis said.
The Davis family decided in-home care was the best place for Eleanor.
“I, myself, have seen too many people go into all levels of nursing care, and I just don’t think they’re very healthy for a lot of adults.” Davis said, “Especially the ones that are active, happy, and mentally with it.”
With recovery of their own, the Davis family needed an extra hand. Senior Helpers offered an in-home care system that helped the family get back on their feet.
“My husband has been through cancer the last three years and I don’t know how we would have juggled his schedule, my mother’s schedule. It’s been a blessing,” said Davis.
Sarah Brownfield, the Senior Helpers care team lead said over 45 million people across the U.S. are working as unpaid family caregivers.
AARP’s survey found 84% report that caregiving significantly increases their daily stress, 27% of working caregivers have had to reduce their work hours or shift to part-time, and 16% have turned down promotions.
Brownfield said taking care of a family member usually falls on one family member, resulting in fatigue and burnout.
“Just think about it in your own shoes,” Brownfield said. “You go to work, you come home and if you don’t have any kids or you don’t have anyone, you have to take care of, you just get to relax. [However] if you’re taking care of a loved one, you have to come home and jump right into basically another job, where you are having to take care of everyone’s needs and that can be a lot.”
Because of the high cost of nursing homes, and need-based care, many believe it isn’t an option.
Senior Helpers works with families to find solutions.
“With Senior Helpers, we try to find resources. Whether it be if you’re a veteran, you can receive services paid for through the VA, or signing up for Medicaid,” Brownfield said. “Or we can come in and do an assessment and identify the hours of the day that you need the most help and what’s the most helpful for you to stay home and be successful.”
Davis says Senior Helpers has made her family just that much bigger.
“Once we got over the initial [process of] getting her well, they have just really kept her well, kept her happy, kept her mentally stimulated and they’re part of the family,” Davis said.
According to a study by Columbia University, Kentucky is among the states considered at “High Risk” of a caregiving emergency.