People aged 60 years and over are one the fastest growing populations in Nevada. Reno Public Radio’s Anh Gray reports as seniors are living longer, many are relying on family as health needs arise, but those caregivers also need help.
Barry Gold is with Nevada’s American Association of Retired Persons, or AARP. He spoke with our public radio partner, KNPR in Las Vegas.
“Family caregivers are the most important source of help for people of all ages all across the state. There’s an estimated about half-a-million family caregivers in our state and they provide about $4 billion worth of uncompensated care.”
Gold says the state has programs that provide much needed short-term relief to caregivers.
“One of the biggest things they can do for caregivers is give them respite care. That’s someone to help them and give them a break. The state of Nevada does have respite care programs, but just a recognition of who caregivers are, what they do and try to provide different ways to help them.”
In Washoe County, the Census Bureau reported in 2014 that there are about 90,000 seniors in the region. That’s about a five percent growth over the previous year.
