2015 AARP Wyoming Caregiving Study

Three-quarters (75%) of Wyoming 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 (55%) of Wyoming registered voters age 45-plus say they are providing (16%) or have provided care (39%) on an unpaid basis for an adult loved one who is ill, frail, elderly or who has a disability.

The average Wyoming caregiver is 55 years old or older, and the majority is female (57%), married or living with significant other (76%), is college educated (61%), retired or not working (54%), and has an annual household income of less than $75,000 (51%).

Key findings include:

• Most Wyoming caregivers are helping or have helped their loved ones with transportation (92%), shopping (88%), social activities/companionship (88%), as well as more complex care like nursing and other medical tasks (68%) and managing medications (67%).
  
  
• Nearly two-thirds (64%) of these caregivers say it is at least somewhat likely that they will need to provide this type of care in the future.
  
  
•  Wyoming registered voters age 45-plus strongly support proposals to help family caregivers navigate the health care system on behalf of their loved ones. 

AARP Wyoming commissioned a telephone survey of 800 Wyoming registered voters age 45-plus to learn about their experiences with family caregiving. This report highlights results from residents interviewed between October 2 and October 7, 2015. The data in this report has been weighted by age and gender to reflect the Wyoming registered voter population age 45 and older.  For more information contact Aisha Bonner Cozad at ABonner@aarp.org.