California Progress Report, November 19, 2011

By Assemblymember Mariko Yamada

November is Alzheimer’s Disease and Awareness Month, National Home Care and Hospice Month, and Family Caregiver Month. It also marks the beginning of the traditional season of thanksgiving, taking stock of our blessings, sharing with those less fortunate, and caring for those who are unable to care for themselves. As families come together this holiday season, I urge you to take an opportunity to discuss future long-term health needs with your loved ones.  The increase in our senior population, along with the reduction in community-based care programs, requires greater attention to the services needed for those with terminal illnesses and those, both paid and unpaid, who provide care.  

Over the past two years, the State has retreated from its support for elder and disabled adults, their families and their caregivers. With assistance decreasing, the need for in-home caregiving is increasing. An estimated one in four California families is currently involved in caring for a loved one with a disability. Caring for a family member who has dementia or who has multiple chronic health conditions can be quite complex, yet most families receive little or no training, assistance or appreciation in their caregiving tasks.  Millions of Californians are juggling job and caregiver responsibilities, and those numbers are growing. In 2010, 14.9 million family and friends provided 17 billion hours of unpaid care to those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The economic value of the unpaid care provided totaled $202.6 billion.  Read More