Contact: Lisa Pugh, 608-469-9385;
Lisa Schneider, 920-540-1094;
Jane Mahoney, 608-228-8096
Madison, WI –Today members of the Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance
(WFACSA) celebrate the creation of the Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving that they hope
will lead to important changes. Family caregivers contribute nearly 588 million hours of unpaid care in Wisconsin annually, valued at $6 billion 1 . Many report high levels of stress, lost time at their jobs and great difficulty finding support.
“There are a growing number of people in what we call the Sandwich or Club Sandwich
Generation,” says Harriet Redman, family caregiver and active member of the Alliance. “That means they are family members, often siblings, who may be caring for their aging parents along with their siblings with disabilities, while also caring for their own growing children. As our population ages, this problem will only get worse.”
Due to a significant direct care worker shortage, 85% of Wisconsin residents who rely on paid caregivers indicate they cannot find staff to meet their daily needs. 2 91% of personal care agencies statewide report they have had to turn away clients because of lack of workers. Governor Evers’ Task Force on Caregiving, announced today, will focus on building and retaining a quality direct care workforce, along with ensuring family caregivers have the supports they need.
“Respite care is something families desperately need,” says Lisa Schneider, family caregiver
and active member of WFCASA. “Without a break family caregivers compromise their own
health.”
In a recent survey of caregivers of people with disabilities in Wisconsin 98% reported some
level of stress; 50% said they were very or extremely stressed. 92% of caregivers reported that caregiving responsibilities affected their employment with 52% giving up on outside
employment entirely.
WFACSA is pleased the Governor has heard our requests for an attention to the caregiver
crisis. The Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance of aging and disability groups’ mission is to raise awareness of family and caregiver support needs and increase the availability of and access to services and supports – both paid and unpaid – which will keep people across the lifespan engaged in their community as long as they desire. Learn more about the Alliance here: http://wisconsincaregiver.org/alliance
