Morning Light Strategy is an insights and strategy agency that helps clients maximize their growth potential among the fast-growing segment of people aged 50+
(New York / November 1, 2024)
A Place for Mom, a leading online caregiver platform that helps enable families to make confident senior care decisions for their loved ones, today released its 2024 State of Caregiving Report. The report highlights important findings about US family caregiver challenges and emphasizes the need to raise awareness of the increased and urgent need for support and resources.
To inform the the report, A Place for Mom commissioned Morning Light Strategy to conduct quantitative primary research and analysis. To that end, we designed and then fielded a nationwide online survey between September 26 - October 7, 2024. Our research and analysis of over 1,000 unpaid caregivers of older loved ones across the US provided valuable insights into the difficulties faced by family caregivers.
“National Family Caregivers Month is a time to recognize the vital role family caregivers play in our lives. I'm thrilled to share insights from new research conducted by Morning Light Strategy in partnership with A Place for Mom, illuminating the complex needs of caregivers."
Dana Keilman, Co-Founder and CEO
Highlights from the Responses of Unpaid Caregivers of Senior Loved Ones Surveyed for the 2024 State of Caregiving Report:
An emotional and Financial toll
Most caregivers (72%) report feeling more overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed after taking on the responsibility of caring for aging loved ones.
Seventy-two percent of caregivers experience financial strain due to caring for aging loved ones.
Among those who were employed before taking on this role, 65% report having less time for work or have had to quit their jobs entirely.
A Balancing Act
Nearly eight out of 10 (79%) were not fully prepared to take on the role of caregiver for their aging loved ones.
Almost half (43%) are part of the "sandwich generation," facing the double challenge of caring for senior loved ones while also managing the needs of their children or grandchildren.
Day-to-Day Challenges
Caregiving is typically a long-term commitment, with 75% of caregivers providing support for more than one year; on average, they provide care for 2.5 years.
Most caregivers help their loved ones on a daily basis, dedicating an average of 22 hours to their duties each week.
Caregivers who work full-time have to balance their careers and caregiving and still spend an average of 20 hours per week as a caregiver outside of their jobs.
Seventy-seven percent have family and/or friends involved in caring for their aging loved ones, but 74% report disagreements on care decisions.
Sixty-seven percent sat they are either not receiving enough help or are receiving no help at all from friends and family.
A Need for Support
More than half (55%) of caregivers lack full confidence in the care they provide.
Nearly half (47%) need help from a professional caregiver (at home or in a senior living community), but only 15% currently receive this support.
Eighty-six percent of caregivers say they are concerned about their loved one's loneliness.
Seventy-two percent of caregivers find aspects of caregiving and future care planning difficult to navigate, while one-third (33%) find it hard to discuss alternative care options with their aging loved ones.
Sixty-seven percent sat they are either not receiving enough help or are receiving no help at all from friends and family.
Click here to read the full press release from A Place for Mom and learn more about their newly launched #BecauseWeCare Campaign, designed to spark a national conversation about the importance of caregiving.
Developing Meaningful Solutions Starts with Understanding Unmet Needs
With over 41 million unpaid caregivers supporting older adults, the conversation around caregiving impacts us all. As we look at the realities caregivers face every day, it's clear the need for support and actionable resources has never been more urgent - and providing the right support and resources always starts with research and insights into the unmet needs of today's caregivers.
Click here to continue the conversation about how we can help you support caregivers and older adults through meaningful, insights-driven change.
Contact: Nicole Munsey (773) 386-0298, info@morninglightstrategy.com
About Morning Light Strategy: Morning Light Strategy is an insights & advisory agency on a mission to help brands and organizations plan and position for the global shift toward an older and longer-lived demographic. We help our clients make the strategic business, marketing and innovation decisions that will accelerate their growth among 50+ consumers and their caregivers.
To learn more, visit: www.morninglightstrategy.com
About A Place for Mom: A Place for Mom is a leading online platform connecting families searching for senior care with a team of experienced local advisors providing insight-driven, personalized solutions. As the nation's leading senior advisory service, A Place for Mom's mission is to enable caregivers to make the best senior living decisions for their loved ones..
To learn more, visit: www.aplaceformom.com
