Caregivers are often uncompensated family members
According to the Kansas Department on Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), 85% of long-term care services are provided by unpaid caregivers. Nearly one in five Kansas adults is a caregiver for an aging relative.
Family members are already working
60% of those caring for seniors are employed at other jobs, with more than half of those working full-time (AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving Survey).
Community and home-based care is better
Seniors may be forced into institutional long-term care because it isn’t feasible for a family member to provide the needed level of services due to work demands. As a result, seniors may be forced to spend their savings to qualify for Medicaid or expend their remaining resources to cover long-term care costs when a better alternative like PFML would be sufficient to meet their care needs at home.
Meeting the needs of an aging population
The “over 85” population is expected to grow at a faster rate than the “over 65” population and many will need assistance. By 2034, the Baby Boomer generation will be at least 70. Today’s families shoulder the responsibilities of aging parents as they juggle the competing obligations of work and parenting. PFML could relieve pressure for family members and the seniors they love, recognizing that all of us, at some point in life, will need help.