As Californians age, more people are becoming caretakers for loved ones

"For Deo Agustin, 54, caregiving doesn't stop when her workday as an in-home childcare provider ends it simply shifts. Agustin cares for her 79-year-old mother, a job she's proud of but that she said has worn on her sense of well-being. Mentally, it's definitely taking a toll, she said. An increasing number of Bay Area families will soon find themselves caring for aging relatives like Agustin, and many are unprepared, experts say."

"The region is among the fastest-aging in the country, with more than half of Bay Area residents expected to be over 50 by 2050, according to estimates from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. More than 22 percent of Californians will be over 65 by 2040, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That's a lot of people who will need help as they age."

"According to an AARP report, the job of caring for them will fall primarily on their families, with one in five adults in the United States currently caring for an elderly relative. That work can be more challenging in California and the Bay Area than in other places because housing, health care, and long-term care costs are among the highest in the nation. Experts warn that people underestimate how quickly these responsibilities can escalate and how limited traditional safety nets like Medicare are."

Caregiving responsibilities in the Bay Area are increasing as the population ages, with more than half of residents expected to be over 50 by 2050 and over 22 percent of Californians projected to be over 65 by 2040. Family members will perform most care, with one in five U.S. adults already caring for an elderly relative. High housing, health care, and long-term care costs, plus limited coverage from Medicare and other safety nets, raise financial burden. Caregivers often juggle paid work, childcare and personal health, producing mental, physical and emotional strain. Advance planning before medical crises improves families' ability to manage escalating needs.

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