(CNN) – Money was no object when the time came for Joan Lunden to find a senior care facility for her 88-year-old mother.
For years, the former host of “Good Morning America” had provided support from New York to her mother and brother in California. After her brother’s death from complications of type II diabetes, Lunden needed to find a new home for her mother, who was suffering from the onset of dementia.
In 2006, Lunden flew from New York to Sacramento and found an apartment, where her mother, Gladyce Lunden, would have the option of entertaining guests or meeting other residents in a ballroom-style dining space.
“On paper, it was spectacular, but it didn’t serve her needs at all,” Lunden said.
It took several falls, a few broken bones and three more moves to find the right place. She now shares a ranch-style home with four others in a small residential care facility. There’s a health care aide on site to help her get dressed or take care of daily needs.
Trying to create the best possible quality of life for an aging relative is “the new normal” for 43.5 million Americans caring for someone older than 50, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance.
It’s not just their parents: With about 10,000 baby boomers hitting age 65 each day, they’re becoming caregivers and also those needing care.
“Now that more baby boomers are aging, the issue of family caregiving is becoming much more commonplace,” said Lynn Feinberg, senior policy adviser for AARP.
The average caregiver in 2009 was a 49-year-old woman who had a job outside the home and spent nearly 20 hours per week providing unpaid care, according to a 2011 AARP Public Policy Institute study.
The report estimated the overall economic value of family caregiving at $450 billion, based on 42.1 million caregivers 18 or older providing an average of 18.4 hours of care per week.
Responsibilities vary, from driving an aunt to physician appointments, managing medication for a spouse or keeping tabs on mom from afar using technology.
Many don’t see themselves as caregivers but simply spouses, children or siblings doing what’s expected. For that reason, they often fail to use resources that might help their relative or themselves.
The first step is acknowledging the need and seeking help, ideally, before entering crisis mode.
“We have to get focused and tuned in because if we’re clueless, we’re going to get hit upside the head when it happens in the middle of a family emergency,” Lunden said.
Caregiving is also much more complicated than it was in the past because of fragmentation within the health care system, with several doctors often required to treat one person, said AARP’s Feinberg. Cutbacks in long-term and community-based services have also put a strain on families to do more individually.
“There is a greater awareness about these issues and the joys and struggles of family caregivers,” Feinberg said. “But we have a long way to go to develop solutions to make life better for families.”
Lunden’s experience inspired her to share the trials, tribulations and rewards of family caregiving. She wrote a Chicken Soup for the Soul book and tours the country giving talks on the topic.
“Nobody wants to talk about their mortality or think about themselves getting old,” Lunden said. “There’s the thought that you go straight to the nursing home to die and that’s not the case.”
There are questions everyone should ask, she said.
Does your loved one have advanced health care insurance? How much does it cover and how long does it last? What about an advanced health care directive or a will? Where’s the mortgage, the title to the car, stocks and bonds? Who in the family should have power of attorney, legal and medical, to keep track of end of life wishes and ensure they’re carried out?
Lunden didn’t have all the answers, but the situation took a turn for the better when she connected with a senior advocate. They talked about her mother’s medical condition, level of independence, behavioral ticks, nutritional needs and hobbies. They also talked about location and financial resources to narrow the options.
“It’s a process and you need to become educated about what the options are (because) the first step is not likely to be the last step,” said Carol Kalmanoff, an adviser with the referral service, “A Place for Mom,” which helps families find the best senior living options for their needs and budget.
Options range from independent living communities to personal care homes to facilities for memory and dementia care, she said.
Many people only make the call during a medical emergency, and often, they don’t know the extent of what they’re dealing with.
“We talk about the need to be persistent because the whole thought of change and moving is very scary and stressful for family members, too,” she said. “We try to help them approach it one step at a time and keep a sense of humor.”
And, with people living longer, healthier lives, retirement takes many forms, she said.
“What today’s seniors associate a nursing home with is what they saw parents growing up with,” she said. “But in reality, it could mean so many things.”
When moving is not necessary or financially feasible, a variety of home-based options exist, said Lisa Winstel with the National Family Caregivers Association. Simple home modifications, like grab guards in the bathroom, can make a big contribution toward independent living. Virtual monitoring systems can also be used to transmit information such as blood pressure to caregivers living in other states or health care providers.
The National Family Caregivers Association is one of several groups designed to help caregivers find resources for loved ones and themselves. It also provides tips on how to communicate effectively with health care professionals and doctors, the best starting point for determining if assisted living might be necessary, she said.
Other resources, such as AARP and Local Area Agencies on Aging, part of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, also provide community-based services and advice.
