The skyrocketing cost of elder care

Terry Gross speaks with New York Times reporter Paula Spann about the rising financial and emotional burdens of family caregiving as the oldest baby boomers age. They discuss the gaps in Medicare and Medicaid coverage, the severe shortage of professional staff in nursing homes, and the high costs of alternatives like assisted living. Spann also shares personal experiences managing her parents’ care and explores emerging solutions, such as state-run insurance programs and shared housing models, to support older Americans.

Topics discussed

Intro: The rising cost of family caregiving Guest introduction: Paula Spann on aging Impact of caregiving on employment and career Costs of home care, assisted living, and nursing homes Overview of adult day programs for seniors Paula Spann's experience moving her father The role of aging life care managers Debunking myths about care manager costs The 'best kept secret' vs. affordability concerns Lack of preparation and conversations about care Medicare limitations for long-term care The Medicaid gap for middle-income families Political threats to Medicaid and care disparities How caregiving impacts personal retirement savings Physical and emotional toll on family caregivers Financial ruin and the end-of-care dilemma The stress of prolonged end-of-life care Geriatric perspectives on experimental treatments Family pressure to continue aggressive treatment Advance directives and POLST forms Detailed control over life-sustaining treatments Sponsor: NPR Up First election coverage Sponsor: LifeKit fall season episodes Nursing home staffing shortages and low wages Post-pandemic workforce exodus from direct care Immigration policy impact on care workers Legal work authorization requirements for hires Undocumented workers in private home care Staffing shortages in hospitals and other facilities Impact of turnover on continuity of care Hospital bed shortages and delayed discharges The gendered burden of caregiving Statistical breakdown of female caregivers Sponsor: Throughline on WWII trauma Sponsor: Pop Culture Happy Hour on Wicker Common reader questions about paying for care Cultural views on family vs. government responsibility Friends as caregivers: limitations and benefits Medicaid as a temporary backstop for care Positive outlook on health in the 80s Rethinking old age and social connections Shifting retirement paradigms for longevity Inadequacy of retirement savings for care Average IRA balances vs. long-term care costs Sponsor: The Indicator on the economy Sponsor: Cure Alzheimer's Fund Washington's WA Cares long-term care program State-led initiatives and Medicaid family pay Preference for family over agency caregivers Direct stipends for elder care spending International models: Japan's mandatory insurance Global comparisons of long-term care spending Cultural differences and multi-generational living Alternative senior living and housing options Home sharing programs for seniors Case study: Affordable home share in Marin County Preview: Next Fresh Air guest Jordan Firstman Credits and production team Sponsor: It's Been a Minute on IQ testing

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The skyrocketing cost of elder care

Summary

Topics discussed