Marian Sunabe visits her 100-year-old mother, Reiko Kobata, in Gardena every week. This regular trip is not just a family visit; it’s also a reminder of the high costs of elder care. Reiko, who has been living independently, requires help at home. After a recent fall and a bout of pneumonia, she now needs both daytime and nighttime caregivers.
The cost of care is staggering. For a 13½-hour daytime shift, the bill is $320. An 11-hour nighttime shift costs just under $300. Together, that totals about $620 per day. If a nighttime caregiver is not needed, the monthly cost drops to around $9,300. However, when both caregivers are required, the monthly expense skyrockets to approximately $18,600.
Marian, a retired school psychologist, points out that many families struggle to afford such high costs. She says, “Most folks would not be able to afford this. It can easily drain all of your savings and assets.” She adds that some families are forced to quit their jobs to care for aging parents, leaving them with few options. The alternative, like moving to a board and care facility, can also cost thousands each month.
This situation reflects a larger crisis across the country. The U.S. is not keeping up with the growing need for elder care as the population ages rapidly. Experts say that many families are unprepared for the challenges of caregiving. Paul Irving, a senior advisor at the Milken Institute, explains that essential care is often not covered by health insurance. This forces many middle-class Americans to spend down their savings to qualify for Medicaid, which is not a sustainable solution.
Marian’s mother, Reiko, relies on a mix of Social Security, rental income, pensions, long-term care insurance, and retirement savings to cover her care costs. However, the agencies that provide caregivers often take a significant cut, leaving caregivers with minimal pay. This situation leads to a shortage of caregivers, many of whom are undocumented and work off the books to avoid agency fees.
The caregiving workforce in California is heavily composed of women from the Philippines, some with legal status and some without. Many live in fear of deportation due to current immigration policies. This situation highlights a significant public policy failure, especially as the number of Californians aged 65 and older is projected to reach 9 million by 2040, accounting for 22% of the population.
As families like Marian’s navigate these challenges, they often resort to caring for their own at home, hoping to avoid the financial burdens of medical care. Marian reflects on her mother’s desire to stay in her own home, saying, “If you’ve been in a house for a long time, you probably have a fortune in equity.” She suggests that downsizing could be a solution for some, but acknowledges that there are no easy answers.
Reiko enjoys her daily routine, which includes reading the newspaper and tending to her garden. She may not keep track of the costs of her care, but she remains engaged and active at home. Marian worries about the future and the broader implications of the elder care crisis, knowing that many families will face similar struggles as they care for their aging loved ones.