The RRF Foundation for Aging has released a new issue brief, “Investing in Caregivers: An Essential Resource for Our Nation,” on the important issue of caregiving. More than 53 million people—one in five of us in the U.S.—are family caregivers who provide essential support to older adults who can no longer live independently. Estimates suggest that the care they provide is worth nearly half a trillion dollars, an economic contribution significantly greater than all government outlays for institutional and community-based long-term services and support (LTSS) combined. This makes caregivers the nation’s largest healthcare workforce, an indispensable part of the health and social service delivery system for older adults and a vital resource for the nation. This issue brief provides an overview of the key issues around caregiver support, describes some of the work the foundation is funding to address these issues, and invites others to join them in developing the next generation of solutions to address this increasingly important issue.
New RFF Foundation Issue Brief on Investing in Caregiving
