It’s something South Dakota families might plan for, but when an older relative needs care at home, loved ones’ expenses and responsibilities can serve as a sobering reality of how much goes into it.
The latest estimate comes from A-A-R-P’s policy arm, which factors in contributions from the state’s 150-thousand family caregivers. The report authors say the unpaid labor of family caregivers represents an average economic value of just over $20 per hour.
AARP state director for South Dakota Erik Gaikowski says the family caregivers are managing daily tasks from meal prepping to coordination of medical services.
“Family caregivers are dealing with those ups and downs on a daily basis. They are taking on a pretty substantial workload, keeping older adults in their homes where they want to be for as long as possible.”
Advocates have long called for state and federal tax credits to provide relief for caregivers taking on added expenses. In the meantime, Gaikowski says South Dakotans can take advantage of existing state-level tools, including one that streamlines access to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
AARP Chief Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond says their report shows that nationally, 59-million caregivers contribute $1-trillion in unpaid labor each year.
“The value of family caregiving exceeds total federal, state, and local Medicaid spending nationwide. Put another way, family caregivers are the backbone of our long-term care system.”
The AARP report says more than half of the family caregivers currently provide complex medical and nursing tasks such as wound care and administering injections.
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