Across the US, tens of millions of family caregivers struggle to care for aging loved ones. It’s hard enough to take care of yourself, your children and your work. Caring for an aging loved one, often someone with physical or cognitive challenges adds another level of challenge. Few people are aware that Medicare now covers family caregiver support, reports Raginee Sudhir Chaurey for CNN.
What would you do if you discovered bruises on your father’s body and your father could not speak or explain what had happened? What would you think was the cause? What if he fell and you could not pick him up? Where would you turn for guidance?
There are 63 million family caregivers in the US. Many if not most of them have little clue how to care for their aging loved ones.
In 2024, Medicare began offering a new caregiving training benefit for family caregivers. It teaches caregivers how to manage their drugs, treat wounds, move a frail person, prevent bedsores and infections, and reduce the risk of falling. It advises caregivers on the best way to speak to a frail elderly person and manage their health conditions.
The caregiver can receive training even if the person being cared for is not with them. The training can be in-person or remote, individual or group. And a range of health care providers can deliver it, including physicians, nurse practitioners and therapists.
Sadly, few people are aware of this benefit. In its first year, fewer than 10,000 caregivers used it.
AARP research found that four in ten caregivers deliver high-intensity care. Yet, just 20 percent of them have been trained to do so.
Some states also offer programs to caregivers. Minnesota has a formal program to deliver free coaching to more than 17,000 caregivers in the state each year. It offers help caring for people with dementia, handling grief, and finances. And, it provides ongoing support.
As with Medicare’s program, most people don’t know about Minnesota’s program. It spends little money on outreach. Wisconsin, too, offers some services for its residents but also does not do outreach. So, few caregivers are aware of it.
If you are caring for a loved one, take a look at this Just Care post that covers a broad range of issues you might want to consider, including: Why you and your loved ones should create advance directives; Caring for your loved ones: Ten key pieces of information you need; and, Financial scams: Beware of strangers offering help.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Roundup: Caregiving
- Grandfamily housing: A means to support multigenerational caregiving
- Caregiving: Keeping Parents Healthy – Water, Walking, Watch out for Delirium
- Caregiving for someone with serious mental Illness: Secure your own oxygen mask first
- Caring for a loved one with mild dementia
