Cheryl, a caregiver from Makawao, had to retire early to take care of her mother, who has dementia. “But now, how am I going to pay the bills?”
Every day, Hawai‘i’s 154,000 family caregivers help their parents, spouses and other loved ones remain at home — where they want to be — instead of in an expensive nursing home.
Family caregivers help with medications, medical care, errands, meals, bathing, dressing and much more. AARP estimates that Hawai‘i caregivers put in nearly 144 million unpaid hours each year, valued at an estimated $2.6 billion. Instead of getting paid, the average family caregiver spends more than $7,000 of their own money each year taking care of loved ones.
Family caregivers deserve our support. That’s why AARP is advocating for commonsense solutions to help caregivers, such as a tax credit for caregivers and paid family leave to help them so they can keep working, save for their own retirement and continue to pay taxes.
To learn more about the AARP Caregiving Campaign, visit aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/caregiving-advocacy.
For more about support and resources for caregivers, visit aarp.org/caregiving.
AARP HAWAI‘I (501(c) nonprofit)
1001 Bishop St., Ste. 625, Honolulu, HI 96813
808-545-6000 | hiaarp@aarp.org | aarp.org/hi
facebook.com/aarphawaii
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