Potential and Active Family Caregivers

As the Baby Boom generation nears retirement and old age, concerns about how the United States will meet the long-term-care needs of its growing elderly population are intensifying. The Social Security Administration projects that one in five Americans will be aged 65 or older by the year 2030, compared with about 13 percent now. Most of the increase will occur between 2010 and 2030 as the Baby Boom generation turns 65. Whereas the family has long been the primary source of long-term care for the elderly, the steep increase in the elderly population casts doubts on whether it can continue in this role as the number and proportion of older adults increases. In particular, there is concern that demographic trends affecting the number of potential family caregivers and the competing demands for their time threaten their willingness and ability to continue assume most of the responsibility for long-term care. Trends toward delayed childbearing and increased female labor-force participation, for example, suggest a growing "sandwich generation," especially of women, who are caught between the demands of child rearing and elder care while attempting to play a more demanding role in the work force. Reduced availability of family caregivers clearly could affect the economic and physical well-being of the elderly and their families. Public budgets will also come under pressure if public programs are called upon to replace what previously has been informal, or unpaid, family care.