Caregiving in North Carolina

The number of family caregivers in North Carolina is large and getting larger. Just a few years ago, one in six North Carolinians reported providing regular care for someone age 60 or older…now the number is one in four. And in a recent AARP study, the economic value of that volunteer, unpaid caregiving during 2006  was found to be 350 billion dollars across the nation and $10.7 billion right here in North Carolina. That's more than the total state spending on Medicaid in 2005. 

Caregiving in North Carolina is a half-hour panel discussion delving into the many issues involved with caregiving and the resources available to caregivers in our state.  Joining Bob Garner for a discussion on this topic are: 

• Suzanne Lafollette-Black, Associate State Director of AARP North Carolina, who heads AARP's caregiver support efforts in North Carolina;
  
• Lisa Gwyther,  Director of the Family Support Program at Duke Medical Center. Nearly half of North Carolina's caregivers are caring for someone with dementia, and the Duke program offers crisis information and referrals for those in this situation; and
  
• Dr. Laura Hanson, Geriatrician and Associate Professor at the UNC School of Medicine, who talked about some of the medical issues that commonly affect  family caregivers.

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