The Crippling Cost of Elder Care
The monthly tab for in-home elder care can be staggering, with some individuals paying upwards of $18,000 per month. For many, this cost is unsustainable, and the burden of caregiving falls on family members or friends.
A Personal Story
Marian Sunabe drives from her home in South Pasadena to visit her 100-year-old mother in Gardena once a week or so. Her mother, Reiko Kobata, is independent-minded and loves the comfort of her own home. For the last four years, Kobata has had a daytime caregiver, and lately, a nighttime caregiver has been added due to her recent fall and illness.
Reiko Kobata, 100, enjoys a visit from her daughter, Marian Sunabe.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
The daytime tab, for a 13½-hour shift, is $320, and the 11-hour nighttime shift costs just under $300, bringing the daily total to $620. This adds up to a staggering $18,600 a month. When the night shift caregiver isn’t needed, the amount is about half that.
A National Crisis
This is not an isolated issue, but rather a national crisis. The United States lags behind many developed countries in terms of elder care, and the global population is rapidly aging.
Reiko Kobata, 100, holds a photo of herself at 29 years old in her home in Gardena.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
“Americans are not prepared for the challenges of caregiving,” says Paul Irving, a senior advisor at the Milken Institute. Families ultimately learn that essential care is not covered by health insurance, and many are forced to pay down to poverty to qualify for Medicaid.
The Math of Elder Care
Sunabe had neatly penciled columns of numbers outlining the math of her mother’s care. Kobata pools Social Security, income from a rental property, pensions, long-term care insurance, and retirement savings to cover the monthly $18,600 bill. The agency providing the caregiver takes as much as half the total, leaving the caregiver with something close to minimum wage.
A Colossal Public Policy Failure
The age wave has been cresting for decades, and it’s not as if it could have come as a surprise. The Public Policy Institute of California projects that in 2040, the number of Californians 65 and older will hit 9 million, representing 22% of the population, up from 14% in 2020.
Reiko Kobata looks over a photo booklet that her family made for her 100th birthday in the living room of her home in Gardena.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
By necessity, more and more families will resort to taking care of their own, living together, and doing a lot of juggling to avoid being bankrupted by medical care.
No Easy Solutions
There are no easy or inexpensive solutions to the elder care crisis. According to Irving and UCLA professor emeritus Fernando Torres-Gil, the U.S. invested heavily in institutional care, enabling a huge for-profit industry to take hold. Other countries instead invested in public financing of community-based and home-centered care.
Conclusion
The cost of elder care is a crippling burden for many individuals and families. The United States lags behind other developed countries in terms of elder care, and the age wave is only expected to worsen the crisis. It is essential that policymakers address this issue and find sustainable solutions to support our aging population.
FAQs
Q: How much does in-home elder care cost?
A: The cost of in-home elder care can vary, but some individuals pay upwards of $18,000 per month.
Q: What are the options for elder care?
A: Options include in-home care, assisted living communities, nursing homes, and community-based care.
Q: Why is the U.S. behind other developed countries in terms of elder care?
A: The U.S. invested heavily in institutional care, enabling a huge for-profit industry to take hold, while other countries invested in public financing of community-based and home-centered care.
Q: What is the projected number of Californians 65 and older in 2040?
A: The Public Policy Institute of California projects that the number of Californians 65 and older will hit 9 million, representing 22% of the population.
Q: How can families afford elder care?
A: Families can explore options such as pooling resources, seeking government assistance, and considering community-based care.
