Based on demographic trends, Kentucky residents need to plan for a great increase in care giving. In 2005, 12.5% of Kentucky’s population was reported to be 65+ (2010, Trimble County 17.5%, 65+) and by 2030 it is predicted that 19.8% of the Commonwealth’s population will be 65+ (2007 U.S. Census Bureau). Today, over half of Kentucky’s older adults report living with a disability. In addition, there is a growing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia. Currently, an estimated 415,171 caregivers provide help with the various care giving needs of older Kentuckians. Such care adds up to more than 445 million hours of care valued at over $4.4 million (National eXtension.org, 2009). 

Care giving is one of the most important roles a person will ever hold. The care giving journey can be as simple as helping someone run errands or taking them to doctor appointments and it can be as involved as taking time away from work and family to provide full time care that includes paying bills, meal preparation and physical care.  As a result, AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) created Prepare to Care: A Resource Guide for Families, to help make caregiving more manageable.  This program emphasizes the importance of planning ahead, rather than waiting for a crisis, as a way to optimize both individual and family preparedness in regards to mental, physical, and financial care.  

To address this emerging need, the Trimble County Cooperative Extension agent for Family and Consumer Science offered the Prepare to Care program to 25 community participants. On average, the majority of participants reported spending 12.32 hours of care during a typical week; however a few participants reported spending 77 hours of care during a typical week. Twenty two participants reported that they did not have a care giving plan and 15 reported that they do not feel prepared to be a caregiver.   As a result of the program, these (25) participants reported increased understanding regarding the importance of having a caregiver plan and also reported being willing to discuss a plan with a family member or friend. 

A valuable program, participants learned: 

• To have all important papers/info in a designated location
• Keep family member informed
• Take care of yourself in addition to family members

Thirty five percent of the participants who filled out a six month evaluation indicated that they have made a caregiving plan.  Participants also reported:

• Communicating with family members about caregiving, their wishes, and about end-of-life decisions
• Completed documentation indicating the location of important papers, bills, documents accompanied with account names and numbers.