What Caregiving Really Takes
Introduction
Katy Wilson still remembers what it was like to take care of her mother as she grew older.
After raising her and her siblings, Katy’s mother had taken care of her father-in-law and her own parents. There was an unspoken expectation that someone would take care of her when the time came, but she never talked to her children about it.
Although Katy didn’t live near her mother, she often asked if she needed help. Her mother insisted she was fine.
“It’s hard to admit, even if you are getting to that point where you need the help, you don’t necessarily want someone to come into your house that you don’t know.”
Katy Wilson
As her mother’s needs became more apparent, her brother moved to Ohio from Seattle to take care of her for the last six months of her life.
Katy wishes they could go back and do things differently.
Not having a plan for her mother’s care was stressful for everyone and led to a lot of last-minute decisions that could have been avoided.
Katy joined Kendal at Home with her husband Craig because she didn’t want her family to have the same experience she and her siblings had caring for her mother.
Without a plan, families are often left managing the logistics of caregiving on their own.
That means scrambling to find in-home caregivers and coordinating schedules, managing appointments and medications and sometimes making major decisions without the person they love because it’s too late to ask.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way.
Here’s a closer look at the impact caregiving can have on older adults and their families and how having a plan helps everyone feel more in control.
20 Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Who Is a Caregiver?
When you consider people who care for both children and older adults, one in every four adults is a caregiver, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. That number has increased by 50% in the past decade as older adults live longer.
63 Million
27 Hours Per Week
The average family caregiver spends 25 hours per week caregiving. About one in four give 40 or more hours — a second full-time job.
What Can You Do Now?
Taking time to estimate the costs of care for yourself or a loved one and how to pay for it can help you avoid financial challenges later.
About 70% of people 65 and older will need some form of long-term care. On average, women need care for 3.7 years; men for 2.2 years. Planning ahead — before you need care — is the most effective way to protect your independence, your savings, and your family.
(semi-private)
Understanding the Costs of Long-Term Care and How To Pay for It
Unlike many long-term care policies that require a waiting period before you can claim benefits, Kendal at Home offers a lifetime guarantee of care coordination and care coverage that begins the day you become a member.
The cost includes an initial fee and monthly maintenance fee depending on your age and the benefits you choose, which can range from $5,000 to $15,000 per month. Your fees may also be tax-deductible as medical expenses.
How Kendal at Home Helps
What if, instead of scrambling, you had someone on your side who already knew you — your health history, your preferences, your goals, and your family — and a plan in place to guide you?
That’s what Kendal at Home membership offers. It’s care planning, personalized care coordination and a guarantee of care coverage.
Our Approach to Care Planning
Before you become a member, we discuss your goals, including where you want to live, what level of independence matters to you, and who you trust to help support you.
We also help you estimate what level of benefits and care you may need based on the personal and financial support you already have in place.
For many members, care coverage is a critical element. This involves understanding the true costs of long-term care, recognizing your income sources and determining what benefits are right for you.
Others may have the financial piece of care covered but don’t know who will care for them and want help navigating that when the time comes.
