Why Do We Teach CPR, But Not Caregiving?

The American Heart Association says they train more than 12 million people in CPR every year, equipping Americans with the skills they need to perform bystander CPR. That is good news; however, while we train CPR skills, why are we not training caregivers given the enormous amount of older people who need long-term health care?

Just think for a moment. We live in an aging society. Advances in medical science allow us to survive accidents and illnesses that just 20 years ago would not have been feasible. We take better care of our health. We get check-ups (remember many in the "Greatest Generation" didn't like to go to doctors). More of us try to be more active. Overall, today we try to be more healthy than past generations.

Yet, any time to drive around, you see new assisted living facilities being built. Nursing Homes, Adult Day-Care Centers, and home health agencies are all everywhere. More and more people need long-term health care, and because many of those people failed to plan, their spouses and other family members become part-time or even full-time caregivers. Do they even know what they are doing?

Family Members Face Challenges When They Provide Care

While you want to avoid having a family member or spouse be a caregiver, what happens if it is already too late for planning? The issue of training caregivers so they don't hurt themselves, or the person they are caring for is a big concern.

Research indicates that doctors usually fail to ask who the caregiver may be for an elderly individual needing help with normal living activities or a person with cognitive decline. Nor do they ask about the impact of being a family caregiver on the individual who accompanies the patient to their office.

If someone does not own Long-Term Care Insurance, a family member often becomes a default caregiver who is untrained and unprepared for the job. Why are these caregivers not trained?

The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP found that the number of family caregivers in the United States increased by 9.5 million from 2015 to 2020 and now encompasses more than 53 million Americans. 

Do you want the full responsibility of your future caregiving to be placed on your family members? Caregiving is hard on those you love, and paid care services are expensive. Health insurance, including Medicare and supplements, will not pay for most extended care services.

Advance Planning Reduces Family Burden

The best way to avoid a family member being burdened with the prospect of being a caregiver while juggling their own career, family, and responsibilities is an advance plan – before you need any long-term care. 

The financial costs and burdens of aging will impact your loved ones and your savings. However, affordable Long-Term Care insurance will make this so much easier. These plans will safeguard your future retirement savings and ease the burdens on the family. This will allow your family to be loving and supporting and not burdened with the physical, emotional, and financial burdens that come from extended care.

Long-Term Care Insurance is Custom Designed and Affordable 

Many times you read articles about how Long-Term Care insurance is expensive. It is not. It is actually very affordable as long as you have reasonably good health and are under age 65 when to get a policy. 

Most people start looking at adding Long-Term Care Insurance to their retirement plan in their 40's or 50's. At that age, premiums are lower, and you may qualify for good health discounts.

Most states have rate stability rules in place, making today's Long-Term Care Insurance affordable but rate stable. Find your state by clicking here.

Several types of plans are available, so experts suggest speaking to a specialist. This is usually not a financial advisor or general insurance agent. The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, a national consumer education and advocacy group, suggests consumers work with a Long-Term Care Insurance specialist. Generally, that means a person with not just years of experience but experience with at least 500 clients who own Long-Term Care Insurance. Most specialists work with multiple major companies since premiums vary dramatically and underwriting criteria vary. 

Find a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist.