AARP Foundation Paid4Care™ hub supports family caregivers
In the past year, UnitedHealthcare Community & State has collaborated with AARP Foundation to develop vital resources aimed at addressing key caregiver-related challenges. AARP Foundation creates and advances effective solutions to reduce poverty for and with older adults.1
According to the American Psychological Association, caregivers often face significant physical, psychological and financial challenges.2 To alleviate some of these burdens, AARP Foundation with the support of UnitedHealthcare Community & State have introduced the AARP Foundation Paid4Care™ hub, designed to provide information on how to get financial support to caregivers.
AARP Foundation Paid4Care™ hub
The hub is an innovative online tool that offers family caregivers information about programs that provide compensation for their caregiving efforts. In the U.S., more than 48 million people care for their older parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents and other loved ones without receiving any payment. Many of these caregivers hold full- or part-time jobs while also managing these competing priorities with their own families. Additionally, 20 million family caregivers perform complex medical and nursing tasks at home with minimal instruction and guidance.
Family caregivers spend an average of $7,200 annually from their own pockets to assist their ill, aging or disabled loved ones. This economic hardship often leads caregivers to stop saving, take on more debt, leave bills unpaid or quit their jobs to provide care.
The hub simplifies the process of finding compensation through assisted self-direction waivers, offering a valuable resource for those with limited time to research these options. The hub assists users in:
- Searching for programs in their state that offer caregiver compensation
- Exploring whether becoming a paid family caregiver is suitable for them
- Developing skills that may help to qualify for paid caregiving roles in their state
The database includes information on over 150 self-directed and Veteran-directed programs that may provide payment to family caregivers. Additionally, the hub offers decision-making support for pursuing compensation through self-direction programs and basic activities of daily living (ADL) lessons to equip caregivers with necessary skills.
Future steps
Looking ahead, UnitedHealthcare Community & State will measure the reach and engagement of the hub, working with AARP Foundation to launch new resources and training. This initiative is part of a broader caregiving strategy involving UnitedHealthcare Community & State, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, UnitedHealth Foundation and UnitedHealth Group Health Equity Strategy.
UnitedHealthcare Community & State is committed to supporting caregivers across the U.S. Through the AARP Foundation Paid4Care™ hub and ongoing collaborations with AARP Foundation, the goal is to alleviate the financial burdens of caregiving, ensuring caregivers have the resources and support they need to continue their vital work.
