About one in every 215 children in Georgia have lost a caregiver due to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. That's nearly 12,000 people under the age of 18 whose parent or grandparent, that lived with them and provided support for them, died, according to data shared by the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute.
To better understand caregivers' experiences over the last two years, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers conducted a national survey, which was released Sept. 28.
Fears of contracting Covid-19 at work have made the caregiver staffing problem worse. Persistent low pay amid a tight U.S. labor market makes it that much harder to attract workers.
By 2034, there will be 77 million people age 65 years and older compared to 76.5 million under the age of 18, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. There are roughly 7,300 geriatricians practicing in the United States and the American Geriatrics Society expects 30,000 geriatricians will be needed by 2030.
Seniors, their families and states are eager to keep older Americans in their homes and out of nursing homes, but those efforts are often thwarted by worker shortages and low pay.
A new CDC study finds that people who provide unpaid care for their children or adult loved ones are twice as likely as noncaregivers to have experienced depression or anxiety, or thoughts of suicide.
