Burden on Family Caregivers Family members and loved ones are
on the front lines of caring for people with chronic health
conditions. According to the National Long-Term Care Survey
published by the Milbank Memorial Fund in 1994, almost 67%
of elders relied solely on unpaid help — usually from
a spouse or daughter. Seniors who cannot carry out basic
activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and
eating received some 120 million hours of unpaid help annually.
If these services were reimbursed, estimated costs would
run between $45 and $94 billion annually. These figures
are daunting, and they do not include the cost of care for
middle-aged or younger individuals who have special needs
or chronic conditions.
