Did you know that there are an estimated 42 million U.S. adults who are informal and unpaid caregivers to adults aged 50 or older? With growing numbers of individuals who aren’t partnered, don’t have children, or are estranged from family, those who work in the caregiving space say having a backup plan for caregiving isn’t talked about enough — until something happens.
For many, a chronic diagnosed illness, a fall or hospitalization, or a decline in health can happen quickly and change the landscape of care for the individual and the caregiver. Paradigm Health encourages hospice care and palliative care patients and families they work with to take the time to establish and put in writing a set caregiving plan of goals for their care and identify frontline caregivers and create a back-up plan for caregiving as well.
Caregiving Plan Resources from AARP
Read more from AARP about how creating a flexible caregiving back-up plan can quell the chaos and relieve caregiving and patient stress.
