National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Releases Family Caregiving Report
The demand for family caregivers for adults who are 65 or older is increasing significantly, and family caregivers need more recognition, information, and support to fulfill their responsibilities and maintain their own health, financial security, and well-being according to Families Caring for an Aging America, a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Although caregivers' individual circumstances vary, family caregiving can negatively affect caregivers' mental and physical health as well cause economic harm, including loss of income and career opportunities. The report calls for health care delivery system reform that elevates family-centered care alongside person-centered care to better account for the roles of family caregivers and support their involvement in the care delivery process.
The study and subsequent report was funded by The John A. Hartford Foundation, which approved two grants totaling $530,000 in 2014 to help support a new report establishing a set of policy and practice-focused recommendations that address the needs of vulnerable older adults and the families who care for them.
To read the full report, click here. Caregivers can also find additional resources here.
