• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Council on Aging
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
DONATE

  • Home
  • Programs & Services Programs & Services
    Overview
    Home & Community-based Care Options
    • Elderly Services Program
    • AddnAide
    • PASSPORT
    • Assisted Living Waiver
    • MyCare Ohio
    • Specialized Recovery Services Program
    • home52 Transportation
    Transitional Care
    • FastTrack Home
    Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Programs
    Aging and Disability Resource Center
    Caregiver Support Program
    • Working Caregivers
    Health & Wellness Programs
    • Health & Wellness Workshops
    • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    Other Services
  • Find Resources Find Resources
    Search for Resources
    Ohio Homestead Exemption
    COA Is a Benefits Enrollment Center
    Opioid misuse and mental health concerns in older adults
    Document Library
    • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers Service Providers
    Working with Council on Aging
    • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    • Be a paid caregiver through Participant Directed Care
    Overview
    PASSPORT & Assisted Living
    • Prospective Provider Information
    • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    Elderly Services Program
    • Current ESP Provider Information
    Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
    • Information for Current Title III Providers
    Service Provider Trainings
    Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    Billing
  • About About
    Overview
    Working at Council on Aging
    • Open Positions
    • Why Work at COA?
    • Emerging Professionals Program
    Senior Leadership Team
    • Board & Advisory Councils
    Advocacy
    Funding
    • Tax Levies
    How to Help
    • Donate
  • News & Events News & Events
    Overview
    News
    Newsletters
    • Join our Mailing List
    Events
    • 2025 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Sponsorship Opportunities
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Workshops
    Public Meetings
  • Contact Contact
    Overview
    Make a Referral
    Contact Form
    Service Excellence Awards
    Communication & Media
    Community Outreach
    Title VI
  • Home
  • Programs & Services Programs & Services
    Overview
    Home & Community-based Care Options
    • Elderly Services Program
    • AddnAide
    • PASSPORT
    • Assisted Living Waiver
    • MyCare Ohio
    • Specialized Recovery Services Program
    • home52 Transportation
    Transitional Care
    • FastTrack Home
    Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Programs
    Aging and Disability Resource Center
    Caregiver Support Program
    • Working Caregivers
    Health & Wellness Programs
    • Health & Wellness Workshops
    • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    Other Services
  • Find Resources Find Resources
    Search for Resources
    Ohio Homestead Exemption
    COA Is a Benefits Enrollment Center
    Opioid misuse and mental health concerns in older adults
    Document Library
    • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers Service Providers
    Working with Council on Aging
    • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    • Be a paid caregiver through Participant Directed Care
    Overview
    PASSPORT & Assisted Living
    • Prospective Provider Information
    • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    Elderly Services Program
    • Current ESP Provider Information
    Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
    • Information for Current Title III Providers
    Service Provider Trainings
    Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    Billing
  • About About
    Overview
    Working at Council on Aging
    • Open Positions
    • Why Work at COA?
    • Emerging Professionals Program
    Senior Leadership Team
    • Board & Advisory Councils
    Advocacy
    Funding
    • Tax Levies
    How to Help
    • Donate
  • News & Events News & Events
    Overview
    News
    Newsletters
    • Join our Mailing List
    Events
    • 2025 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Sponsorship Opportunities
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Workshops
    Public Meetings
  • Contact Contact
    Overview
    Make a Referral
    Contact Form
    Service Excellence Awards
    Communication & Media
    Community Outreach
    Title VI
Council on Aging
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
DONATE
(513) 721-1025
  • Home
  • Programs & Services Programs & Services
    Overview
    Home & Community-based Care Options
    • Elderly Services Program
    • AddnAide
    • PASSPORT
    • Assisted Living Waiver
    • MyCare Ohio
    • Specialized Recovery Services Program
    • home52 Transportation
    Transitional Care
    • FastTrack Home
    Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Programs
    Aging and Disability Resource Center
    Caregiver Support Program
    • Working Caregivers
    Health & Wellness Programs
    • Health & Wellness Workshops
    • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    Other Services
  • Find Resources Find Resources
    Search for Resources
    Ohio Homestead Exemption
    COA Is a Benefits Enrollment Center
    Opioid misuse and mental health concerns in older adults
    Document Library
    • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers Service Providers
    Working with Council on Aging
    • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
    • Be a paid caregiver through Participant Directed Care
    Overview
    PASSPORT & Assisted Living
    • Prospective Provider Information
    • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    Elderly Services Program
    • Current ESP Provider Information
    Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
    • Information for Current Title III Providers
    Service Provider Trainings
    Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    Billing
  • About About
    Overview
    Working at Council on Aging
    • Open Positions
    • Why Work at COA?
    • Emerging Professionals Program
    Senior Leadership Team
    • Board & Advisory Councils
    Advocacy
    Funding
    • Tax Levies
    How to Help
    • Donate
  • News & Events News & Events
    Overview
    News
    Newsletters
    • Join our Mailing List
    Events
    • 2025 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Sponsorship Opportunities
    • 2025 Forum on Aging Workshops
    Public Meetings
  • Contact Contact
    Overview
    Make a Referral
    Contact Form
    Service Excellence Awards
    Communication & Media
    Community Outreach
    Title VI
Council on Aging
DONATE
(513) 721-1025
Thanks for visiting, but before you go...

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at COA and in the fields of aging and disability services:

Sign Up
  • Home
  • Programs & Services
    • Overview
    • Home & Community-based Care Options
      • Elderly Services Program
      • AddnAide
      • PASSPORT
      • Assisted Living Waiver
      • MyCare Ohio
      • Specialized Recovery Services Program
      • home52 Transportation
    • Transitional Care
      • FastTrack Home
    • Senior Utility and Home Repair Assistance Programs
    • Aging and Disability Resource Center
    • Caregiver Support Program
      • Working Caregivers
    • Health & Wellness Programs
      • Health & Wellness Workshops
      • Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
    • Nursing Home Pre-Admission Review
    • Other Services
  • Find Resources
    • Search for Resources
    • Ohio Homestead Exemption
    • COA Is a Benefits Enrollment Center
    • Opioid misuse and mental health concerns in older adults
    • Document Library
      • Annual Reports
  • Service Providers
    • Working with Council on Aging
      • Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
      • Be a paid caregiver through Participant Directed Care
    • Overview
    • PASSPORT & Assisted Living
      • Prospective Provider Information
      • Current PASSPORT Provider Information
    • Elderly Services Program
      • Current ESP Provider Information
    • Title III, Senior Community Services & Alzheimer State Funds
      • Information for Current Title III Providers
    • Service Provider Trainings
    • Clinton County Senior Services Grant
    • Billing
  • About
    • Overview
    • Working at Council on Aging
      • Open Positions
      • Why Work at COA?
      • Emerging Professionals Program
    • Senior Leadership Team
      • Board & Advisory Councils
    • Advocacy
    • Funding
      • Tax Levies
    • How to Help
      • Donate
  • News & Events
    • Overview
    • News
    • Newsletters
      • Join our Mailing List
    • Events
      • 2025 Forum on Aging presented by Global Meals
      • 2025 Forum on Aging Sponsorship Opportunities
      • 2025 Forum on Aging Workshops
    • Public Meetings
  • Contact
    • Overview
    • Make a Referral
    • Contact Form
    • Service Excellence Awards
    • Communication & Media
    • Community Outreach
    • Title VI
Home > News > This National Family Caregivers Month, a call to prioritize funding and recognition for caregivers

This National Family Caregivers Month, a call to prioritize funding and recognition for caregivers

November 13, 2024

Retired educators Betty and Bill used to delight in attending sporting events, traveling, spoiling their beloved golden retriever and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Participating in their favorite activities slowed down and finally came to a stop after Bill was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease five years ago. As his disease has progressed, Bill has required constant care from Betty.  

Betty is not alone in her role as a family caregiver. She is one of more than 48 million unpaid caregivers helping older parents, spouses and other loved ones remain in their homes and communities rather than prematurely enter a nursing home, which is extremely costly. 

While Betty was already retired when she became Bill’s caregiver, there are also millions of caregivers who are part of the so called “sandwich generation,” providing care for aging parents while also raising their own families and working.  

National Family Caregivers Month in November is a time to call attention to the importance of family caregivers to our literal – and financial – health as a nation. After all, family caregivers in our country provide $600 billion of unpaid labor each year. In addition, the care they provide to keep their loved ones in their homes saves money in taxpayer-supported nursing home admissions. They are the backbone of our long-term care system, one which our country couldn’t begin to afford to replace.  

As important and irreplaceable as caregiving is, it seems logical there would be an abundance of coordinated supportive resources available to caregivers. On the contrary, the network of supports and services available doesn’t have the funding needed to meet the demand. The situation is more dire when you consider the rapid pace of growth among people age 85 and older – the group most likely to need care.  

It is not always easy to find the help that is available. Many caregivers are trying to navigate a complicated web of long-term care services and supports. They are trying to understand what their loved one qualifies for and how to pay for it.  

Council on Aging (COA) supports family caregivers both directly and indirectly through programs that help older adults remain independent in their homes, as well as programs aimed specifically at supporting family caregivers.  

For example, our Caregiver Support Program provides one-on-one counseling for family caregivers to help them manage the challenges that go along with caregiving. The focus of the program is on the caregivers themselves – helping them manage stress, access resources, balance their responsibilities and provide respite care if needed. The number of caregivers served through this program has increased by 100% from 2020 to 2023. 

The program is funded by the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), which is the only national program specifically supporting the family caregivers of older adults. USAging (which represents the country’s network of Area Agencies on Aging – of which COA is one) is calling on Congress to significantly increase appropriations for the NFCSP in 2025, as it currently only serves a small fraction of caregivers. 

As the need for caregiving continues to grow, it will be important for all caregivers to have access to services that can support them in their caregiving journey and help more older adults remain independent in their homes and communities.  

Caregivers need and deserve recognition at the federal level that what they are doing is important – not only to the person they are providing care for, but for the health and stability of our long-term care system and our country. 

The federal government is implementing its National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers – aimed at building a system that ensures family caregivers have the resources they need to maintain their own health, well-being and financial security while caregiving. But it is in its early stages. 

In the meantime, COA is actively advocating for caregivers at all levels of government. This includes a current effort at the county level to ensure its older adult clients who are caring for their grandchildren receive kinship care supports. And the Ohio Department of Aging has funded the new Golden Buckeye Center for Dementia Caregiving as the state’s central resource hub for caregivers of Ohioans living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.  

“As our population ages rapidly, there is undoubtedly more of a focus on providing caregiver support than in the past,” said COA Government Relations Director Nan Cahall. “But there is still much more work to do at all levels of government.” 

Primary Sidebar

MOST RECENT

Council on Aging Board Member Profile: Jane Ripberger

Take a hike this summer with Buckeye Trail Anywhere - even from your couch!

Craig joins Council on Aging as Chief Information Security Officer

Dr. Karen Jones Bankston named chair of Council on Aging’s board of trustees

Educating and Inspiring Area Professionals at the 2025 Forum on Aging

Archives

  • Council on Aging and home52 Terms of Use
  • Links Policy
  • HIPAA
  • Site Map
  • Home52
(513) 721-1025

Copyright © 2025 · Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio. 4601 Malsbary Road | Blue Ash, OH 45242 | Log in

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

  • Council on Aging and home52 Terms of Use
  • Links Policy
  • HIPAA
  • Site Map
  • Home52
This website uses cookies and other tracking technologies to assist with navigation, monitor site usage and web traffic, assist with our promotional and marketing efforts, and customize and improve our services and website. For more information about cookies and how we use them please see our Privacy Policy. Accept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Thanks for visiting, but before you go...

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on what’s happening at COA and in the fields of aging and disability services:

Sign Up