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Valley organizations need to increase incentives for caregivers

By David Schmidt

At decade's end, the first of our nation's 77 million "baby boomers" will be turning 65. Thanks to new medical technologies, an increased focus on healthy lifestyle habits and the discovery of wondrous drugs, this generation will live longer than any generation that has come before.

But the tragic reality is that the aging of America comes at a time when our healthcare system is overstressed, overburdened, understaffed and under funded. And as America ages, so too does its caregivers.

A large percentage of today's home caregivers here in the Coachella Valley are seniors themselves. Spending days and nights caring for a loved one can take such a heavy physical and mental toll on those delivering the care that in many cases the caregiver's own health is compromised. The result is a household that now finds itself with two ailing adults suddenly needing assistance with such normal daily activities as transportation, grocery shopping, cooking and bathing.

Moving these individuals into nursing homes is not the answer as there simply aren't enough nursing homes to go around. More importantly, nobody wants to go to a nursing home if there is a reasonable alternative that will allow them to maintain their quality of life while remaining independent in their own homes. We have an obligation to find a way to make that happen with the respect and compassion these seniors have earned.

The second, complicating aspect to this caregiver crisis is that the age of a typical professional home care worker is between 25 and 40. But as the age wave hits and society ages, there will be a diminishing number of people available to fill these jobs. This challenges us to look for ways to encourage our fellow citizens to take on these very important roles.

One idea is to create an incentivized system that could include broadening tax deductions or tax credits for caregivers' expenses, expanding family and medical leave benefits for full- time workers, and making sure home care workers know that they may qualify for federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

Organizations here in the Coachella Valley can do their part by sponsoring caregiver training or by instituting creative, employer-based programs (such as child care for caregivers) that support the work caregivers do. Local health plans should expand their case management programs to truly provide value to seniors in need. And we should create a local "one stop shopping directory" providing caregivers information on community resources, health and social organizations, caregiver support groups, etc. Such initiatives send an important message that society recognizes and values the important role caregivers play in making our communities whole.

David Schmidt is president and chief executive officer of SCAN Health Plan, a geriatric-focused health plan and one of only four select "social HMOs" in the country.