Responding to the growing needs of family members who care for elderly relatives, the Gerontology Center at the College of Nursing announced the establishment of its new Elder Care library Monday.
The library is now open and available to U faculty, staff, students and alumni. It was made possible through a donation from Peter Dirkson who, as a care giver for his father, saw the need to expand the resources and information available for family members who care for older adults.
“Although most care givers of older adults are women, in the case of spousal care giving arrangements, men are highly involved.,” said Scott Wright, associate professor of gerontology. “In fact, ‘informal,’ unpaid care givers are the backbone of the long-term care system in America today.”
Estimates from various sources indicate that as many as 52 million Americans, or 31 percent of the adult population, are currently informal care givers.
Elder care is fast becoming an important issue for many workers across the United States. A recent Wall Street Journal story reported that more than 14 million U.S. workers are estimated to be caring for older family members, and their efforts?which often take them away from the office?cost employers as much as $29 billion a year in lost productivity.
The article also stated that caring for elderly relatives typically takes at least eight hours per week, spans eight years and the problem is expected to increase as the number of middle-aged workers grows, and their parents live longer. The key to elder care is preparation and planning.
No one plans to take care of a parent. Typically, it comes as a surprise and often in a “crisis” situation. It can occur at any time of life. Nobody knows when a parent or spouse may need help after suffering a debilitating disease, stroke, heart attack or accident.
“The Elder Care library represents an important step in assisting those who need the most current information about financial and legal issues, levels of care, emotional needs or coping, options in care services and resources, women’s issues, inter-generational concerns and end-of-life care,” Wright said.
The new library contains more than 150 titles and also has several videocassette series on elder care topics, as well as books that help young children understand Alzheimer’s disease.
The library is located in the Gerontology Center at the College of Nursing Building. For more information, contact Wright at 581-8198 or [email protected].
