Economic, Legal, & Practical Resources

Women who are family caregivers are 2.5x more likely than non-caregivers to live in poverty and 5x more likely to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). (Rice University in collab. with National Institute of Aging and the University of Michigan 1992-2004)
American businesses can lose as much as $34 billion each year due to employees’ need to care for loved ones 50 years of age and older. (MetLife Caregiving Cost Study: Productivity Losses to U.S. MetLife Mature Market Institute and National Alliance for Caregiving Business. July ’06)
In 2013, caregivers provided an estimated 17.7 billion hours of informal (that is, unpaid) care, a contribution to the nation valued at over $220.2 billion. This is approximately half of the net value of Wal-Mart sales in 2012 ($443.9 billion) and nearly eight times the total revenue of McDonald’s in 2012 ($27.6 billion) (Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures 2014)

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave and job protection for those caring for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition. Read about how it works here. This law also provides for unpaid sick leave with job protection in workplaces that must follow the FMLA.
The Caregiver Experience: A Snapshot of the Caregiver’s Journey is a graphic depiction of a caregiver’s day. Use this tool to communicate with your employer or human resources team about your needs at work.
Low income individuals may qualified for support through the Medicaid Cash & Counseling Program. The program allows your loved one to pay you for the time you spend providing care.
Financial Planning for Caregivers guidebook, from the Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER). This guidebook provides worksheets and helpful resources to support caregivers in their planning.
Alzheimer’s Society Financial and Legal Planning resource (very detailed).
Example Care Agreement Contract
Important Legal Documents
Legal Planning Guide
Legal Planning Tips

Memory Care Checklist
Questions to ask when considering a memory care community.
When Love Gets Tough: the Nursing Home Decision
The author outlines the decision-making process, how to understand the emotions and guilt that may accompany the move, and how to develop a healthy relationship with the loved one once they’ve moved. He also discusses family meetings, legal and financial issues, and working with the facility.
Moving a Relative with Memory Loss: A Family Caregiver’s Guide
This book assists families in thinking through the various decisions related to moving a loved one with dementia. Included are ideas on planning the move, making the move easier, and coping with common emotional reactions.
The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making
This book discusses the topic of patient decision-making capacity and offers, in a step-by-step format, strategies for making health care decisions for someone who cannot.
Reducing Transfer Trauma for a Person with Dementia
Alzheimer’s Association: Telling a Person They Need Long-Term Care Consultation
How to Recognize Signs It’s Time for Assisted Living

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