Based on demographic trends, Kentucky needs to plan for a great increase in caregiving. In 2005, 12.5% of Kentucky’s population was reported to be 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 caregiving 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).

AARP recognizes that caregiving is one of the most important roles a person will ever hold.  The caregiving 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 created Prepare to Care: A Resource Guide for Families, to help make caregiving more manageable.  The guide 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.  Recognizing that conversations about care can be challenging, the resource guide includes tips for starting necessary conversations in addition to information and checklists about organizing important documents, assessing need and locating resources.  It is important to remember that “it is never too early or too late to help your family ‘Prepare to Care’” (AARP, 2012).

To examine the effectiveness and feasibility of the AARP caregiver preparation program, Prepare to Care, Pendleton County offered the program to 15 individuals.  On average, among the 15 participants who completed pre-lesson evaluations, they reported spending 4.7 hours of care per week. These same caregivers reported spending, $13,371 on average, per year, on caregiving.  

Prior to attending the program, participants were asked to report on their preparation for caregiving. When it comes to feeling prepared to take care of a family member’s physical needs, 11 participants reported that they felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared.  In regards to taking care of emotional needs, 11 participants reported feeling “somewhat” to “very well” prepared. 7 participants felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared regarding setting up services; 7 participants felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared to deal with caregiver stress; and 13 participants felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared to respond to and handle emergencies.  Overall, 10 participants felt “somewhat” to “very well” prepared to make caregiving a pleasant experience.  

In regards to at least three of the major caregiving issues, which include types of care, impact of care, housing, finances, powers of attorney, and assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, 8 participants reported NOT having talked much or at all about these issues with their loved one while 5 participants discussed at least three caregiving issues “thoroughly” to “very thoroughly”.  In sum, prior to the lesson, 11 participants reported their willingness to discuss care arrangements and 9 participants reported feeling “somewhat” to “extremely” prepared to have such discussion.  Prior to the program, 5 participants did not feel prepared to discuss care arrangements.    

After attending the program, 14 participants reported feeling “somewhat” to “very well” prepared to care for a family member but 1 participant still reported feeling not at all or not too well prepared.Following the program, 14 participants felt “somewhat” to “extremely” prepared to initiate a caregiving discussion with their family member or friend.

Evaluation results suggest that as a result of this program, the number of participants who felt somewhat to extremely prepared to initiate a caregiving discussion with a family or friend increased from 9 to 14 participants.

 A valuable program, participants learned:

• The preparation forms make you think of things you may have not considered.
• Preparing guidelines for myself; others are going through this, comments; agencies to reach out to
• I found all aspects of the lesson very helpful