2015 AARP Kentucky Caregiving Study

More than three-quarters (77%) of Kentucky registered voters age 45-plus believe that being cared for at home with caregiver assistance is the ideal situation when the basic tasks of life become more difficult due to aging or illness.  In fact, more than six in ten (61%) Kentucky registered voters age 45-plus say they are providing (24%) or have provided care (38%) on an unpaid basis for an adult loved one who is ill, frail, elderly or who has a disability.

The average Kentucky caregiver is 55 years old or older, and the majority is female (62%), married or living with significant other (70%), has some college education or less (62%), retired or not working (56%), and has an annual household income of less than $60,000 (51%).

Key findings include:

• Kentucky caregivers are helping or have helped their loved ones with social activities (90%), shopping (89%), meal preparation and household chores (86%), as well as more complex care like managing medications and other nursing and medical tasks (74%).
  
  
•  Nearly three-quarters (74%) of these caregivers say it is at least somewhat likely that they will need to provide this type of care in the future. 
  
  
• Kentucky registered voters age 45-plus strongly support proposals to help family caregivers navigate the health care system on behalf of their loved ones.

AARP Kentucky commissioned a telephone survey of 800 Kentucky registered voters age 45-plus to learn about their experiences with family caregiving. This report highlights results from residents interviewed between October 16 and October 23, 2015. The data in this report has been weighted by age and gender to reflect the Kentucky registered voter population age 45-plus.  For more information contact Aisha Bonner Cozad at ABonner@aarp.org.