California caregivers face heavy burden

A recent issue of the California Agriculte Journal, entitled The Golden State goes gray: What aging will mean for California, has discovered that many in-home caregivers face a significant burden when caring for seniors, according to The Daily Democrat.


The report claims that the majority of 440,000 registered caregivers, both paid and unpaid, face financial, emotional and physical problems due to their increased responsibilities and lack of training.


Additionally, the demand for caregivers is increasing as baby boomers age and want to experience active retirement living.

However, many older adults are also expected to suffer from chronic conditions in the coming years, which may prove difficult for adult children to manage.


Alzheimer's disease will be a major problem going forward, but Beth Ober, a University of California-Davis professor, told the news source that if the psychological and biological effects of the illness can be better explained to caregivers, serious steps could be taken to alleviate their burden.


The Alzheimer's Association predicts that by 2029, every baby boomer will be at least 65 years old. By 2050, 11 to 16 million Americans over the age of 65 will suffer from Alzheimer's disease.


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