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April 9 - NAPGCM Elder Care and Aging Issues Survey Results

The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) recently surveyed 2,075 U.S. adults aged 18 and older about elder care and aging issues. The Geriatric Care Manager/Aging Study was conducted by Harris Interactive via its QuickQuery online omnibus service. Questions answered for the survey include the following:

Aging Concerns – What are the primary concerns related to aging?
· Loss of physical or mental health
· Losing the ability to drive
· Losing spouse/partner and/or having to live alone
· Not having sufficient finances to support themselves and their spouses/partners later in life

Elder Care – What are the current circumstances related to elder care and caring for aging parents?
· Caring for aging parents from a distance
· Caring for aging parents who live in my home
· Caring for aging parents who live in their own home
· Caring for aging parents who live in assisted living or nursing home
· Caring for aging parents and caring for my own children
· Concerned about caring for aging parents in the future
· Approaching late adulthood myself and needing elder care in the near future
· Currently in late adulthood and receiving elder care
· Desire for employers to offer elder care benefits

Geriatric Care Management Profession – What is the awareness of geriatric care managers and the geriatric care management profession?
· What percent of consumers are familiar with the roles and responsibilities of the geriatric care manager profession?

Highlights of the Survey Results
· While losing their physical or mental health was the top rated consumer concern overall (83%), at a close second (78%) was not having sufficient finances to support themselves or their spouses/partners later in life.
· A relatively high percentage of consumers (71%) were concerned about having to leave their homes or losing their independence.
· Losing a spouse/partner and/or having to live alone weighed heavily on the minds of many of the respondents (66%), as did a spouse/partner having to care for a person if he or she was to become frail or were dying.
· Other major concerns noted were losing the ability to drive (65%) and having to care for a spouse/partner as they became ill or were dying (58%).
· Overall, 32% of respondents were at least familiar with the roles and responsibilities of the geriatric care manager profession.

Source: National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

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