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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 07:53 AM Sep 2014

Who Will Take Care of the Elderly?

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/09/who-will-take-care-of-americas-elderly/380147/

?nbt5km

If life were fair, Marsha Schumacher, 69, wouldn't have to worry about affording care in retirement. Schumacher left the workforce in 1982 to look after both her son, who'd begun manifesting symptoms of bipolar disorder at five years of age, and her husband, who was exhibiting similar behaviors. Today she and her husband are separated, and while Schumacher takes great pride and satisfaction in her son's flourishing career and marriage, her own future looks less bright.

"I stopped work because my priority was to do everything I could so that my son could succeed in life," Schumacher told me in a back room at the Center for Community Change in Washington D.C. "I stopped work not realizing at that point what it would do to me in retirement."

She has no pension, and her Social Security benefits are roughly half of what they would have been had she stayed in the workforce until retirement age.

Uncommonly poised with brilliant blue eyes, Schumacher had come to Washington from her home state of Montana as part of the Center's push to raise national awareness around an issue that's become increasingly pressing: caregiving. Americans are expected to see a shortage of caregivers in the coming decades, with a dearth of family and friends available to tend to the baby-boom generation as it ages, according to the most recent data from the American Association of Retired Persons. If projections hold, by 2030 there will be just four potential caregivers for every person 80 or older, down from more than seven in 2010.
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Who Will Take Care of the Elderly? (Original Post) xchrom Sep 2014 OP
Well, if it doesn't have "switched" in the title, this thread will drop like a rock. IdaBriggs Sep 2014 #1
It does seem like that topic has been a hit davidpdx Sep 2014 #4
Or xchrom could have put "Palin" in the subject line Doctor_J Sep 2014 #27
Depressing but not surprising. redwitch Sep 2014 #2
Our prisons are stuffed to the gills AngryAmish Sep 2014 #3
That might be considered cruel and unusual punishment davidpdx Sep 2014 #5
Because proReality Sep 2014 #6
What could go wrong? phil89 Sep 2014 #8
"Send a felon to Mom! Free help; just hide the jewels!" DID I MISS YOUR SARCASM THINGY? WinkyDink Sep 2014 #10
It seems as though she scarified everything and then got screwed davidpdx Sep 2014 #7
The caregiver credit would be a good thing for me. logosoco Sep 2014 #9
I think we need to make our own small communities to support each other. mahina Sep 2014 #19
Good idea. Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #28
Amazing that people still think like this. Daemonaquila Sep 2014 #11
There's that word again "entitled" LiberalElite Sep 2014 #15
It's one thing to hold those values onesself, eShirl Sep 2014 #16
that went right over your head Skittles Sep 2014 #25
Exactly! marew Sep 2014 #18
Husband's SS HelenWheels Sep 2014 #12
That was my first thought BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #14
We are moving my 77 year old mom in with me this weekend. The executives at Bethlehem Steel Dustlawyer Sep 2014 #13
OMG, my mother, too! BethSteel ruined her widowhood; even deducted my father's SS from his pension! WinkyDink Sep 2014 #23
As labor productivity vastly increases due to technology, hours per week should decrease, MH1 Sep 2014 #17
Cuba offers their citizens elderly day roody Sep 2014 #20
Damn commies! A corporation could do it better. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #22
Kicked and recommended! Enthusiast Sep 2014 #21
War will solve this. grahamhgreen Sep 2014 #24
Serious SS increases, make caregiveing a career that pays living wage, and lead the executives who Doctor_J Sep 2014 #26
 

IdaBriggs

(10,559 posts)
1. Well, if it doesn't have "switched" in the title, this thread will drop like a rock.
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 08:19 AM
Sep 2014

But I think this is an important topic, so take a kick and a recommend from me.

redwitch

(14,932 posts)
2. Depressing but not surprising.
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:03 AM
Sep 2014

I have no pension, took a lot of years off to raise my kids. I am not looking forward to retiring ever.

 

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)
3. Our prisons are stuffed to the gills
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:15 AM
Sep 2014

Why not let them serve their time in a home of an elderly person who needs looking after? We don't have to house the prisoner and the older person has someone to look after them and do cooking and cleaning.

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)
5. That might be considered cruel and unusual punishment
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:22 AM
Sep 2014

The older person talks their ear off and drives them insane. Plus I'm not so sure it would be safe for granny or grandpa.

proReality

(1,628 posts)
6. Because
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:27 AM
Sep 2014

Not everyone has the patience needed to care for the elderly, their ailments, their slipping mentality, their frailties, their finances, etc.

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)
7. It seems as though she scarified everything and then got screwed
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:28 AM
Sep 2014

If her son is really doing that well then they can afford a slightly bigger house and to take care of mom. If it had not been for the mother taking care of her son and husband things would have been different.

Here in Korea people are expected to take care of their parents (usually the oldest child). My FIL is 82 and my MIL is 70 and they still live by themselves, but I doubt that will last forever. My wife's older sister will probably be the one to take care of one or both of the parents (though I think her mom could end up going to live with her younger sister as she a child that she could use some help with).

logosoco

(3,208 posts)
9. The caregiver credit would be a good thing for me.
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:42 AM
Sep 2014

I took off several years of working when my kids were babies, now I am currently out of work (although for physical reasons) and am helping with my grandsons so my daughter and her husband can get their careers going.
Both of my daughters work in a somewhat "upscale" senior living community (one in the business office, one in the dining room), so they have knowledge and a good attitude toward working with the elderly.
My own mother is still doing great, she will be 80 next year. But anything could happen and she could need me to help her out as well.

mahina

(17,502 posts)
19. I think we need to make our own small communities to support each other.
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 11:58 AM
Sep 2014

Like mini communes. Small shared homes. It would help a lot of us.

 

Daemonaquila

(1,712 posts)
11. Amazing that people still think like this.
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:51 AM
Sep 2014

Number of "potential caregivers?" Nobody should have any expectations that family or friends will become their caregivers, much less make financial decisions based on that. I don't care how many kids a person has, or how close they think family is, it's pretty silly (and entitled) to believe that someone will sacrifice their own family, work, and/or plans to become a caregiver, much less have the financial (or even physical) ability to take on that role. The only reasonable way to plan for old age is to assume that a person will be on his/her own. It's time to reject such assumptions versus getting worked up about the possibility that baby boomers and others won't have others to carry them in old age.

LiberalElite

(14,691 posts)
15. There's that word again "entitled"
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 11:05 AM
Sep 2014

maybe people still think like this because there are residual pockets of responsible, compassionate caring people who believe they should help the family member who helped them so much for 18+ years while they grew up.

EDIT TO ADD: This is more right wing "I got mine" bull. Mom and dad are eating cat food? Can't afford the rent? Too bad for them! They lived long enough already.

eShirl

(18,466 posts)
16. It's one thing to hold those values onesself,
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 11:09 AM
Sep 2014

quite another thing to expect and depend on others holding those same values. Because not everyone will (and then what will do you?), or if they do not everyone will be able to follow through due to other circumstances.

marew

(1,588 posts)
18. Exactly!
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 11:54 AM
Sep 2014

Daemonaquila. sounds like you are channeling my father!
I am a retired older boomer. I grew up listening to my dad who told me hundreds of times that no matter what, I am responsible for myself- ALWAYS. He said if you marry your husband may die or leave or whatever. I got an excellent education and worked very hard for over 34 years, sometimes taking on an additional part time job. I also saved a good amount, always living below my means.
I have worked with numerous families who have children with special needs. Many times family members worked opposite shifts. It wasn't easy but they did it.
My ex got a girlfriend after 32 years of marriage. Consequently we divorced. Based on what HE wanted in the divorce- I came through the divorce in excellent shape. He, on the other hand, thought he would make zillions flipping houses. He had 4 foreclosures and a bankruptcy. He never saved a penny for retirement. What's that adage? Never risk more than you can afford to lose.
I have friends and acquaintances my age who are in very dire straits. They never gave a thought to the future- living only for one day at a time. Even now they will shop at only the most exclusive upscale stores, have numerous credit cards maxed out, have a seriously negative net worth, and then complain about their financial situations. They are blind to the fact they created the monster!
I could never live like that, never!
I am not referring at all to the disabled or to those who have worked hard all their lives under horrendous circumstances. As a retired graduate level social worker, I am the first to stand up for those cannot stand up for themselves. I believe we must help so many- it is our absolute duty.
But, also, a certain number of seniors have created their own problems.

HelenWheels

(2,284 posts)
12. Husband's SS
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 10:28 AM
Sep 2014

If she was married 10 years and her husband has higher SS benefits than she does she could get SS from her husband's account.

Dustlawyer

(10,493 posts)
13. We are moving my 77 year old mom in with me this weekend. The executives at Bethlehem Steel
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 10:48 AM
Sep 2014

stole my dad's and many others pensions when the company went under due to Japanese steel imports. She gets $50 a month for an engineer husband's pension who worked there 35 years. When my father got sick I quit practicing law for 5 years to run their small automotive shop. I was able to triple the business and then sell it to give them a nest egg which is finally running out. My brother and two sisters are disabled and live on about $700 a month each with subsidized apartments which they still pay some money for out of their $700. They cannot help and require help which is running out, mom and I cannot do it all. Still trying to get my last kid through collage despite a 30% pay cut (thanks BP) and another 25% cut for increase in my health insurance (all in last 4 months).
Yes life in America, the "greatest country on earth", has become increasingly hard on everyone not named Walton, Koch, or Gates, and a handful of others!

 

WinkyDink

(51,311 posts)
23. OMG, my mother, too! BethSteel ruined her widowhood; even deducted my father's SS from his pension!
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 01:05 PM
Sep 2014

He was an Industrial Engineer for about 35 years, also! Once the company went to that Pension Guaranty company, forget it.

MH1

(17,537 posts)
17. As labor productivity vastly increases due to technology, hours per week should decrease,
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 11:16 AM
Sep 2014

while pay per hour increases.

Then family members would have more availability for care-giving.


That would NOT solve the problem but would put a large dent in it, and be immensely beneficial to society.

It makes no sense to me that as technology "takes away jobs" it doesn't, instead, take away hours per week that a worker needs to apply in order to make a decent living. (Not even factoring in that some jobs don't even pay enough to make a decent living at just 40, or even 60, hours a week).

Yeah, yeah, I know. A pipe dream. You want reality-based? I got nothin'.

Enthusiast

(50,983 posts)
21. Kicked and recommended!
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 01:02 PM
Sep 2014

I want an end my life option. It is an entirely reasonable request. They could come up with a drug one could take once their options become such that they cannot take it any longer. Of course I don't believe in any forced, Soylent Green government mandated end of life.

 

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)
26. Serious SS increases, make caregiveing a career that pays living wage, and lead the executives who
Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:13 PM
Sep 2014

stole workers pensions to the guillotine live on PBS. Oh, and UHC

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