General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWho 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.
IdaBriggs
(10,559 posts)But I think this is an important topic, so take a kick and a recommend from me.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)This one is just as important.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)to go with the other 75 OPs
redwitch
(14,932 posts)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)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)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)Not everyone has the patience needed to care for the elderly, their ailments, their slipping mentality, their frailties, their finances, etc.
phil89
(1,043 posts)I think that was a Simpsons episode...
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)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)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)Like mini communes. Small shared homes. It would help a lot of us.
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)Daemonaquila
(1,712 posts)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)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)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.
Skittles
(152,963 posts)the advice is sound - do not EXPECT help
marew
(1,588 posts)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)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.
BuelahWitch
(9,083 posts)My mother did that, and it did help some.
Dustlawyer
(10,493 posts)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)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)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'.
roody
(10,849 posts)care. nt
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)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.
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)War on Grannie.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)stole workers pensions to the guillotine live on PBS. Oh, and UHC