As more Americans are aging with chronic disease, a recent study published by JAMA notes an uptick in the percentage of older Americans receiving in-home assistance.
More seniors now receive help from caregivers — about 50 percent reported in-home assistance in 2012, compared to 42 percent in 1998. More of this assistance is now provided by spouses, children, other family members and paid caregivers, according to the report.
Researchers noted the greatest increase in caregiving was actually among older Americans who had less impairment to their daily activities than their peers. The authors hypothesized that this may be due to the fact that seniors with significant impairment already sought caregivers. The trend could also indicate that more seniors are choosing to age in their communities rather than nursing homes.
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