Michigan’s Silent and Wage-less Seven Billion Dollar Industry
A half million Michiganders provide care for a loved one with Alzheimers and dementia
Michigan has a seven Billion-dollar industry where almost everyone works for free. It’s called Elder Care. Over a half-million Michigan adults take care of a loved one with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia. It adds up to 580 million hours of unpaid care annually. November is National Caregiver Month. Alzheimers Association Greater Michigan Chapter Programs Manager Kate Pierce says a conference this week is offering support for caregivers. Pierce says “People who are caregivers for people with dementia tend to have higher levels of stress and depression. Part of that might be due to the emotional challenge of seeing someone decline. But also kind of the 24/7 nature of care. Especially as people progress later in the disease. Ya know, it’s hard to get a break and people tend to burn out”.
