Who’s Going to Care for the Baby Boomers?

As we all know, there are a lot of Baby Boomers (and we are precious). But a new report from AARP’s Public Policy Institute brings up an interesting question: who is going to care for the Boomers when they can’t care for themselves? 

Donald Redfoot, Lynn Feinberg and Ari  Houser issued a report, The Aging of the Baby Boom and the Growing Care Gap:  A Look at Future Declines in the Availability of Family Caregivers.  They look at family caregivers–the services they provide and their availability, and also discuss a profile of when someone is likely to need long-term services and supports (LTSS). The report identifies the “caregiver support ratio” (that is “the number of potential caregivers aged 45-64 for each person aged 80 and over”) to identify the number of caregivers likely available and the number of Boomers needing care.

Here is a startling conclusion from the report summary:  in 2030 the caregiver ratio is anticipated to be 4:1 and by 2050, 3:1, which is when the Boomers will fall into the age category that places them most likely to need LTSS. The report’s conclusion notes that the demand will outstrip supply for family caregivers and by 2030, as Boomers reach their 80s, “the decline in the caregiver support ratio will shift from a slow decline to a free fall.”  The report shows us that this issue has implications in many areas of elder law.  There is a one page “in brief” perfect for hitting the highlights in class.

Judith Graham’s August 26, 2013 post in the NY Times The New Old Age Blog discusses this report as well as a survey that was done by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Long-Term Care: Perceptions, Experiences and Attitudes Among Americans 40 or Older was published in April of 2013.  Here are some key points from that study:   although respondents have concerns about their aging, less than half have taken any action: 41% have talked to their families and 35% are saving for long-term care costs; many don’t understand what Medicare covers for nursing home care; and many think their families will care for them–although others who have needed long-term care previously are not as optimistic about their families providing them care.

Both reports are important reading and have some great materials for class discussions.

Becky Morgan