Facts and Figures

Caregiver Shortages

• By 2030, it is estimated that 20%-50% of the older population will require basic nursing care or help with activities of daily living.
• The greatest increase in the direct care worker field will be among home health aides, whose numbers are projected to increase by 56% (from 624,000 to 974,000).
• The number of personal and home care aides is expected to grow by 41% (to 988,000, up from 701,000), while the number of nursing aides, orderlies and attendants is expected to increase by 22.3% (from 1.455 million to 1.781 million).
• Direct-care workers tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics are expected to continue their current growth spurt between 2004 and 2014.
• Baby boomers will have a smaller pool of potential family caregivers than current older adults. Baby boomers had fewer children than their parents, and 12% had no children. They are more likely to be divorced and to live alone as they become elderly.

Family Caregivers

• Family caregivers provide 78% of home care services.
• 14% of those receiving home care receive a combination of family care and paid help.
• Only 8% of those receiving home care rely o­n paid care entirely.
• More than 50 million people provide care for family members each year. 60% of family caregivers also hold down full or part time jobs.
• The value of family caregiver services is estimated to be $257 billion a year—twice as much as what is spent annually o­n home care and nursing home services.
• Family caregivers who provide high levels of care have a 51% incidence of sleeplessness and a 41% incidence of back pain.
• Family caregivers caring for a parent at least 36 hours per week are twice as likely to experience depression or anxiety as those in the general population.
• The stress of caring for a family member with dementia has been shown to impact caregivers’ immune systems for up to 3 years after caregiving ends, making them at risk for chronic illnesses.
• American business loses between $11-29 billion each year due to workers’ need to care for family members 50 and older.
• Over 40% of family caregivers provide some type of nursing care such as changing bandages, managing machinery, giving medications and measuring vital signs.

The Aging Boom

• People over 65 currently represent approximately 13% of our population-- about 36 million people.
• From 2010 to 2030 the 65+ population will grow by 75% to 69 million people.
• The 85 and older group who are most in need of help is expected to reach at least 7 million in 2020.
• The 85+ group will double again in size by 2040, when the first baby boomers reach age 85.