2015 AARP Nebraska Caregiving Study

Seven in ten (70%) Nebraska registered voters age 45-plus believe that being cared for at home with caregiver assistance is the ideal situation when the basic tasks of life become more difficult due to aging or illness.  In fact, more than half (51%) of Nebraska registered voters age 45-plus say they are providing (17%) or have provided care (35%) on an unpaid basis for an adult loved one who is ill, frail, elderly or who has a disability.

The average Nebraska caregiver is 55 years old or older, and the majority is female (53%), married or living with significant other (71%), is college educated (57%), working full or part-time (52%), and has an annual household income of less than $75,000 (56%).

Key findings include:

•    Most Nebraska caregivers are helping or have helped their loved ones with social activities or providing companionship (89%), transportation (87%), shopping (83%), and more complex care like nursing and other medical tasks (66%) and managing medications (64%).   

•    Nearly three-quarters of caregivers (73%) say that at some point their loved one was admitted to the hospital. Additionally, nearly all (95%) say it would be important for them to get instructions if their loved one was being discharged from the hospital.

•    Many of these caregivers have had to use their own money to help provide care (59%) or make changes to their home for the loved one in their care (31%).  A quarter (25%) say they have felt financially strained due to their caregiving responsibilities.

•    Nebraska registered voters age 45-plus overwhelmingly support providing a state income tax credit to family caregivers who incur expenses for the care and support of an older family member living with them.

This AARP Nebraska commissioned report highlights results from residents interviewed between October 2 and October 7, 2015. The data in this report has been weighted by age and gender to reflect the Nebraska registered voter population age 45-plus. For more information contact Aisha Bonner Cozad at ABonner@aarp.org.