Tomorrow’s Caregiving Today. RealTalk: Who Will Care for You and Your Family?

Tomorrow’s Caregiving Today

RealTalk: Who Will Care for You and Your Family?

Tomorrow’s Caregiving Today is a public education campaign encouraging California residents of all ages to learn about caregiving, its related costs and how individuals and families are impacted. Now is the time to think about and plan for current and future caregiving needs.

Rising Demand and Costs 

Long-term care services and costs are increasing in California. About half of older adults will need long-term services and supports (LTSS) at some point, but many families find these costs unaffordable. The average cost of a private room in a nursing home in California is over $100,000 per year.

Some families are able to pay for private care, which is very expensive. Others who meet income requirements access long-term care services through state managed programs such as Medi-Cal, also known as Medicaid, which covers home health services. However, for most of the population, referred to as “Missing Middle Caregivers,” their choices are limited, and they often face financial hardship.

“Missing Middle Caregivers” are middle-income individuals or families who do not qualify for MediCal (Medicaid) yet lack the resources to pay for expensive private care.

Advocating for Change 

AARP California is collaborating with community organizations, activists, legislators, and unions to advocate for a financing solution to make long-term care affordable, one that gains support from voters, the governor’s office, and state legislators.

Your Voice Matters

What’s missing are the voices of California residents who are, or will be, impacted financially by the costs of receiving or giving care. It is critical that we understand the challenges of the current long-term care system and demand action from policy makers to find solutions that can help ensure older Americans can work, live, and retire with the security and dignity they deserve.

RealTalk: Who Will Care for You and Your Family?

Many long-term care related expenses fall on caregivers, leading to significant out-of-pocket costs, resulting in financial insecurity and emotional and physical stress. This stress impacts caregivers of all ages. In fact, a 2020 report found that 24% of unpaid caregivers are ages 18-34, with 1 in 10 caregivers being a student.

AARP California offers a FREE one-hour session at college campuses to educate juniors, seniors, and graduate students on:

• Aging trends and their future impact
• Costs of caregiving and long-term care in California
• Planning smart strategies for themselves and loved ones
• Information on state and AARP caregiver resources

If you are interested in scheduling a session at your campus, email rstone@aarp.org.

Caregiving Resources: 

If you are caring for a loved one, click on this link for helpful tips and resources in California, like our Caregiver Resource Guide, Community Resource Finder to locate care providers, programs and services available in a specified area, and the latest information caregiver rights.