Baby Boomers will have many of the same need as previous generations for assisted living care, but with some important differences. First, Baby Boomers are living longer, healthier lives than previous generations, but they don’t have access to family caregivers like generations before. One in five Boomers will not have adult children to help them when living independently becomes difficult or impossible. Those Boomers who exhibit early signs of dementia are going to be hardest hit. Baby Boomers who are aging without a partner or spouse will make up about 40% of adults over 65. Not having an intimate partner advocate is a growing concern for people who want to help seniors with dementia.
Baby Boomers want to stay active and independent for as long as possible and lead healthy lifestyles They want choices about where to live and how to live their final days. Those who show signs of dementia, including short-term memory loss and changes in mood, language and inhibition, can have a hard time finding suitable arrangements for growing old in peace and dignity when they don’t have families to can rely on.
Dementia symptoms vary from person to person. For example, Lewy Body dementia is a series of medical problems encompassing depression, Parkinson’s, dementia and other symptoms that make diagnosis and treatment difficult.
As more Baby Boomers come of retirement age, they’re deciding not to move out of their homes and instead age in place. Dementia care is expensive, which creates another problem: seniors haven’t saved enough money to help them live through their retirement years. The average senior has about $136,000 in retirement savings, but the costs of living is rising across all sectors and is outpacing the Boomer generation’s ability to save money.
In 2015, about one in every seven Americans was 65 or older, or about 47.8 million; that number is expected to nearly double to 98 million by 2060. About 25% of Baby Boomers haven’t been able to save any money at all, leaving them no other option but to continue working well past retirement age.
DayBreak Adult Care Aiken provides services for seniors who need help transitioning to assisted living care. We help alleviate loneliness and isolation by providing companionship. We also provide dementia care to supplement or replace family caregivers’ efforts. DayBreak provides assistance with grocery shopping, bathing and getting dressed, toileting, household chores and safe transportation. We can help remind you or your loved one when it’s time to take medicines, and when you’re in a nursing home setting or hospital, we can sit with you or your loved one and advocate for your needs as they arise to other staff. If you’re a caregiver to a loved one showing signs of dementia and you need a break, we are here to help.
