August 16, 2023 - By Mark Moran - Producer-Editor, Contact - News
Big Sky Connection - A new report from AARP Montana shows in-home caregivers, who often are unpaid family members, provide more than $1.76 billion in unpaid care. Lawmakers and advocates are working together to increase wages, improve working conditions, and better the prospects for people taking care of their family members, most of whom want to age at home. Comments from Mike Batista, advocacy director of AARP Montana.
Mark Moran
August 16, 2023 - More than 48 million Americans count themselves as in-home caregivers, helping loved ones live independently as long as possible.
A recent AARP report found Montana caregivers provide $1.76 billion in unpaid care each year.
Caregivers help with medical care, meals, bathing and dressing, finances, groceries, and transportation among other things.
Mike Batista, director of advocacy for AARP Montana, said there are about 115,000 caregivers in the state taking care of loved ones in their homes, which dispels a common misconception.
"I think a lot of people sort of believe that most older Montanans end up in a nursing home or assisted living," Batista noted. "The majority of them are cared for currently at home by a family member."
Montanans mirror a recent poll, which found 70% of older people said they want to stay at home. AARP Montana is calling on policymakers to help increase wages and working conditions for in-home caregivers and consider tax breaks for volunteers who help their loved ones.
Caregivers also pay for expenses out of their own pockets and reduce their work hours or leave their jobs to care for loved ones. President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order improving access to home-based care for veterans, enhancing job quality for long-term care workers, and offering more support to those caring for loved ones with dementia.
Batista argued there is still work to be done, and Montana needs to help change a bureaucracy not currently set up for in-home care, but which will see a steady increase in demand.
"The tricky part is sort of a balance between providing someone that can help with in-home care and also the services," Batista explained. "There are a number of agencies out there -- Area Agency on Aging in Montana -- that provide in-community, in-home care. And they could certainly do a lot more if some of the money from institutional care was reallocated."
Batista added the state is working to provide more respite for family members who are often the primary, round-the-clock caregivers.
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