- Grace Sutherland Smith, LMSW, is executive director of AgeWell Middle Tennessee, based in Nashville, and co-chair of the Tennessee Coalition for Better Aging.
November is National Family Caregivers month, and if there’s one thing that’s come to light during the pandemic, it’s that we don’t value and support family caregivers enough.
Even though families provide most of the care for children, adults with disabilities and older adults, Tennessee ranks 49th nationally for support of family caregivers, according to the 2020 Long Term Services & Supports State Scorecard.
It’s shocking that, research shows, between two to three million women have left the workforce in the past year due to caregiving, and there’s a lot of uncertainly about how many will return to work.
They are experiencing challenges finding and paying for both child and elder care, both with a major impact on families today.
It is imperative that employers and public leaders take steps to improve support for family caregivers, further ensuring a place for women in the workforce.
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Tennessee must start innovating as other states have
We’ve seen recent progress with legislation and funding to create the Katie Beckett Waiver to support families caring for children with severe disabilities when they have too much income to qualify for TennCare.
It’s also encouraging that TennCare will spend up to $400 million in federal funding to boost home and community-based services for residents with disabilities and family caregivers, and to increase pay for direct care workers in the Choices program.
More than 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day in the United States and waiting lists for home and community-based services are growing.
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There is much work to do to provide a more robust system of long-term services and supports to Tennesseans. Many states are innovating how they pay for and support family caregivers including the middle class, and it’s time for Tennessee to do the same to keep more women in the workforce.
Reimagining long-term services and supports
The good news is that organizations across the state are coming together to envision a better way.
This spring, the Tennessee Coalition for Better Aging hosted three virtual meetings with more than 100 participants from across the state – older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, advocates, service providers and public officials.
Together, we reviewed innovations in other states and developed guiding principles and prioritized opportunities to improve Long Term Services and Supports in Tennessee.
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We shared our priorities with TennCare to help shape their plan for use of increased federal funding for home and community-based services, and we continue to engage with state officials, legislators and other organizations who work with older adults.
We invite you to join this effort and share your ideas and caregiving stories.
You can learn more, sign on to the Guiding Principles and get involved by visiting the Coalition’s website https://www.coalitionforbetteraging.com/reimaging-ltss.
How to get an Eldercare Coach consultation
In the meantime, there is help for family caregivers across the state. Several community organizations provide support and care navigation assistance.
The Tennessee Respite Coalition provides relief through a toll-free respite helpline, voucher program, volunteer respite and senior companion program.
Local Area Agencies on Aging offer information and referral services, Medicare counseling, caregiver support programs and serve as the entry point for home and community-based services.
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At AgeWell Middle Tennessee, throughout November and December, our organization is providing complimentary 30-minute Eldercare Coach phone consultations for caregivers to talk confidentially with a geriatric care professional about their situation and receive guidance on care and support options.
Caregivers can learn more and sign up for a day and time that’s convenient at www.eldercarecoach.org/ or by calling our Helpline (615) 353-4235.
If there’s one thing to remember, it’s a common caregiver support group refrain: “If I don’t take care of me, I can’t take care of you.”
Our hope is that if you’re caring for someone who depends on you, that you’ll take care of yourself first, reach out for assistance and share your story.
Together, we can work with state leaders to ensure that Tennessee family caregivers have the support we need and that we can all age well.
Grace Sutherland Smith, LMSW, is executive director of AgeWell Middle Tennessee, based in Nashville, and co-chair of the Tennessee Coalition for Better Aging.
