Data released by AARP this week shows that almost one million people in Louisiana provide unpaid and unsupported care to older loved ones at home. That accounts for almost 30% of the state’s adult population. Andrew Muhl, the director of advocacy for AARP Louisiana, says even though the vast majority of seniors would prefer to live out their elder years at home, the state puts a disproportionate amount of money towards nursing homes instead of in-home care.
“The state’s long-term care budget funds about 80% of every dollar towards nursing homes, and only about 20% towards in-home care,” Muhl explained.
Muhl says as a result, scores of seniors and the loved ones who care for them end up going it alone without any state assistance.
“You have, sometimes upwards of 12,000 people, waiting on a list so that they can receive services in their home, but there is no waiting list to go into a nursing home,” Muhl said.
Muhl says that puts a huge burden on the family caregivers, both in terms of money and time.
“That’s paying out-of-pocket for expenses that comes with juggling your job and your career. And for some people, it’s a full-time job just to care for a loved one,” Muhl noted.
AARP says 80% of family caregivers spend their own money to pay for their aging loved ones’ needs, averaging more than $7,000 a year, and more than half juggle full-time or part-time jobs and take on debt.
