Caregiving is stressful and expensive--in more ways than one. The average American caregiver in is a 49-year-old woman who works while taking care of her elderly mother struggling with Alzheimer's or some other illness--maybe several. For the caregiver, it may be a labor of love, but that doesn't mean it isn't costly in time, stress, and financial resources. Sometimes, caregivers have not only their parent to take care of, but also their children. And while caregivers are providing that constant care for others, sometimes caregivers themselves are in need to care—such as support physically, emotionally, and financially.

AARP supports a Caregiver Tax-Credit Bill by Senator Donald Norcross and Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt.  Caregivers need help and this bill will provide just that. Without these caregivers many more people would fill retirement homes costing the government more money. 

At one point or another in our lives we will all either become caregivers or caretakers, so let’s figure out a way now to create an opportunity to support them.


Karoline Panes

AARP Advocate

Princeton, NJ