2015 AARP Montana Caregiving Study

More than three-quarters (77%) of Montana 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 half (54%) of Montana registered voters age 45 and older say they are providing (16%) 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 Montana caregiver is 55 years old or older, and the majority is female (59%), married or living with significant other (75%), is college educated (55%), working full or part-time (50%), and has an annual household income of less than $60,000 (56%).   

Key findings include:

• Most Montana caregivers are helping or have helped their loved ones with social activities/companionship (89%), transportation (86%), shopping (84%), as well as more complex care like nursing and other medical tasks and managing medications (68%).
  
  
• More than half (56%) of Montana caregivers say they are working or have worked full or part-time while providing care to an adult loved one.
  
  
• Montana registered voters age 45 and older strongly support proposals to help family caregivers care for their loved ones and continue to work.   

AARP Montana commissioned a telephone survey of 800 Montana registered voters age 45-plus to learn about their experiences with family caregiving. This report highlights results from residents interviewed between September 2 and September 14, 2015. The data in this report has been weighted by age and gender to reflect the Montana registered voter population age 45-plus.  For more information contact Aisha Bonner Cozad at ABonner@aarp.org.