A new study from Seniorly Resource Center found family caregivers in Wisconsin are the No. 8 least burned out in the nation. While the state’s ranking is notably positive, the study highlights a greater issue across the country.
A record 53 million Americans provide an estimated $600 billion annually in unpaid family caregiving, and it is taking an enormous toll on their financial, physical, and mental health.
The burden falls on America’s “Sandwich Generation,” with an unprecedented 54% of parents in their 40s caring for aging parents and financially supporting adult children. With long-term care facilities facing a historic staffing shortage, the demand placed on this segment of health care workers is likely to increase in some areas worse than others.
The study from Seniorly used the most recent data from the Census Bureau, CDC, Alzheimer’s Association, and the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Multiple factors were analyzed such as multigenerational households, Alzheimer’s disease, long-term care workers, age dependency ratio, and health issues reported by caregivers.
A few metrics that led to Wisconsin’s ranking show 35.8% of caregivers report having two chronic health conditions and 13.1% are mentally distressed. Alzheimer’s is expected to increase by 8.3% by 2025 and 1.7% of homes are multigenerational.
Some key findings include:
- Women are disproportionally impacted, making up 61% of caregivers, while 75% of women aged 45–54 work, and a mother’s lifetime earnings will decrease 15% due to caregiving;
- Twenty-three percent of caregivers say their own health has declined, 85% report mental distress, and during the pandemic, 50% had serious suicidal ideation; and
- Caregivers face out-of-pocket costs, spending $7,424 annually, more than 10% of household income.
