In 2015, the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP estimated that 43.5 million people provided unpaid care. By 2025, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health projects this number will rise to 53 million. These caregivers make up most of the 63 million family caregivers in the United States, nearly one in four adults, who provide ongoing care for complex medical conditions or disabilities. (Reinhard et al., n.d.)
The financial impact is significant, particularly from wage losses. A 2024 study by the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health estimates that unpaid caregiving accounts for about $873.5 billion in uncompensated labor. (McHugh, 2024) Although caregiving is often seen as a family duty, it frequently imposes substantial physical, mental, and financial burdens on caregivers. (ME et al., 2017). Read more
The Chapel 1871 project is moving forward — and picking up speed.
As CorpWell Foundation’s flagship preservation project in Vermont, Chapel 1871 in North Clarendon represents everything we believe about historic places. We believe they are not relics. They are living resources with the potential to teach, connect, and serve communities for generations to come.
This spring, we have meaningful progress to share — across leadership, funding, building safety, and community partnerships.
A new medical study found that adults with close relationships and community ties experienced slower biological aging and less chronic inflammation.
Experts say that you should view loneliness just like you would hunger or thirst: a signal that you’re lacking something essential for your health.
Having a rich social life may do more than brighten your days—it could also help slow biological aging, according to a new study.
Co-authors of the study, published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, included Laura Kubzansky, professor of social and behavioral sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and researchers from Cornell University, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University.
Drawing on data from more than 2,100 participants in the long-running Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) project, researchers discovered that adults with higher cumulative social advantage—meaning long-standing, robust relationships with family and friends and in religious and community groups—had biological markers showing slower cellular aging and reduced levels of chronic inflammation as compared to their less-connected peers. Read full study
How does our current aging approach of displacing older adults or ourselves contributes to these new findings? What are your thoughts? Join the conversation
Approximately 44 million Americans aged 18 and older give unpaid assistance. They help older adults and individuals with disabilities living in the community. The estimated annual value of this unpaid work is immense. It is nearly twice the total costs of home health care and nursing home care.1
Furthermore, most caregivers are not adequately prepared for their role and often offer care with little or no support. More than one-third continue to give intense care even when they are in poor health. Studies show that family caregiver’s physical health strongly influences their decision. They may move a relative into a long-term care facility based on their health.
Research shows that family members who care for people with chronic or disabling conditions face their own risks. They confront these risks besides other challenges. Complex care giving situations can lead to emotional, mental, and physical health problems for caregivers. Caring for a family member is often very demanding, and caregivers’ health can suffer as a result. When this happens, the person who is ill may lose the support and presence of their loved one.
Most people prefer to stay at home in familiar surroundings despite these difficulties. They especially prefer this when they can do so with support from independent senior living options.
Many have already found some approaches. Larger towns had funds to expand their Senior Center into attractive new facilities offering an array of services. Others have created Communities Without Walls. Village to Villages offers a volunteer-based organization. It addresses transportation and other home repair needs. Another body of research has led to the idea of OASIS. Small cultural and social centers where people can gather and enjoy lectures, activities and companionship. Dr. Asselin and her team have researched an approach that would make this possible. Offering training to organizers to create an OASIS in their communities.
The Oasis Certification curriculum is up and running. Give elders the best life they could have with a novel approach that will change the Faces of Aging.
This self-paced course and online-meetings will allow you to provide a very needed service in your community.
