Answers: Caregivers

More than a half-million Iowans are 'caregivers” - responsible for providing more than 24 hours of care per week to aging parents, a sick spouse or child with special needs - and that number will increase as our baby boomers enter their golden years.

What, if anything, should be done to make it easier for these Iowans to juggle work, family and community responsibilities?

FROM OUR INBOX

I'm a care giver for my mother-in-law and more each day also for my wife.

Time, energy, and finances seem to be my rarest 'jewels” in my life at the moment. Decrease the difficulty and cost of interacting with what programs do exist, the time involved with doing so, the 'always there meddling” financial oversight from the big brothers in government, and the insurance companies. Help costs a minimum $24 an hour - if you can find the resources locally.

As a society, we need to get more 'hands on” resources for adult day care, aids to help those managing dementia patients, help with daily chores (cooking, cleaning, errands, shopping) and set up more required preparation (financial and health care) for the next round of retirees coming up.

Michael J.

Cedar Rapids

FROM FACEBOOK

' Chuck W.: Respite care. My dad took care of my mom as long as he could with her advanced Alzheimer's.

' Brynn A.: Free access to legal aid to help families plan. There are resources for this but cannot be obtained due to stressful red tape.

' Sarah G.: Support groups to share ideas and information.

' Lisa V.: The unemployed and non-working could receive quality training at no cost to be aides and caregivers to provide respite for overwhelmed family members. All caregivers, family or not, should be compensated financially or in kind.

' Dawn S.: Make it easier and faster for families to get the elderly waiver so their caregivers can work without the stress of worrying about who can take them while they work.

' Rita M.: Special home loans for families caring for a family member that is disabled. So many things change in care: We age, they age. We just do all we can but a lot of what we would like to do is not realistic.

' Jim H.: It's the individual's responsibility.

' Barb K.: I like that some programs allow the caregiver to select people to watch over their loved one and those people get paid. I did this to give my mom a break with dad. I would do it without pay, but for some it means you can pay your bills and care for your family member, and give the primary caregiver a break.

' Melissa C.: Insurance-covered respite care and weekly coverage so providers can grocery shop!

' Samantha J.: Give me a fair wage that I don't have to reapply for my job to get a raise. Communicate with your staff consistently and within their boundaries so they don't feel like they're always at work. Praise your staff the instant they do something right. Do not nitpick, because a lot of times the employees who are flexible are the most creative with clients.

' Lynn B.: I'm not sure if it falls to the state or feds but affordable, covered basic help would be nice.

' Becky T.: Better flex benefits at work.

' Mari H.: Employers need to appreciate the good employees and make sure the not-so-good ones are either getting more training or fired. I love being a caregiver, my family understands it's a demanding job. I just want to be appreciated.

' Janita F.: As a nurse, I say provide more health care funding! And, pay the nurses and health aides better wages.