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“My Mama Joe: Hope & Help” puts Spotlight on Alzheimer’s, Caregiving and Health Disparities

Published in RINewsZToday on August 24, 2026

In the 57-minute documentary My Mama Joe: Hope & Help, producer and director Herb Caldwell, Ph.D., takes a close, intimate look at family caregiving through the eyes of his large, extended Black family.

The documentary looks at the life of JoeAnna “Mama Joe” Caldwell, a community leader whose achievements involved setting up the Faith Social Services Center, guiding vulnerable young people, and campaigning for health equity before she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 60.

“This sweet songbird is my mother, Joanna. You can call her Mama Joe. She is one of nearly seven million people living with Alzheimer’s in America,” says Caldwell, introducing his mother in the documentary.

Caldwell describes his film project as “a divine assignment, referring to it as a “heart project.”  A friend contributed the seed funding to help get the project started.  Without funding, he was able to start his docu-project because he owned video and musical production equipment.

“The filming took seven months to complete with the help of volunteers. Funding ultimately came in after the film was finished,” he said. He estimated that a standard production company would have easily spent an extra half a million dollars to make a film of this type.

The documentary is mainly told from the point of view of Caldwell, who is an administrator at Logan University in Chesterfield, Missouri, and includes interviews with 24 of Mama Joe’s family members and friends about the care they provided. Through their accounts, it becomes clear what daily life was like for Mama Joe due to her memory loss and the strong effect this had on those who looked after her.

Thirty-seven medical and health care professionals, advocates, and policy experts offered informed commentary on Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving, and health disparities, says Caldwell.

According to Caldwell, researchers from “colleges and universities throughout the country also contributed expert voices grounded in scholarly research and evidence. Practitioners were interviewed, he says, “ensuring that this film not only reflects theoretical knowledge but real-world hands-on experience from people actively working in the aging field.”

Finally, Caldwell interviewed  specialists to address practical, often confusing aspects of caregiving that the audience needed to understand – such as navigating insurance systems. Caldwell’s background as a Sociologist came in handy, balancing personal stories with expert commentary. “We wanted to tell our personal story, but we also wanted to help educate others,” he said, explaining that the importance of the documentary’s narrative structure was to be educational, backed by research and data.

According to Caldwell, the documentary first aired on WSIU PBS on February 5, 2025, after which the individual local PBS stations arranged for the film to be shown to their local audiences. At the time of writing, it had already been shown at about 100 locations throughout the country as part of an educational screening tour.

The documentary debuted on WSIU PBS on Feb. 5, 2025, although local PBS stations independently scheduled the film for their regional audiences, Caldwell says. At press time, this documentary has already been shown at some 100 locations across the country as part of an educational screening tour.

In August, screenings took place in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, Newport, and Providence, Rhode Island. “We’re talking about doing a standalone screening in Boston, possibly before the end of the year,” says Caldwell.

Rather than simply watching the film, audience members could “ask questions about topics” that were covered.  A panel of experts allowed people to get clarification on complex issues discussed in the documentary, noted Caldwell.

“People left feeling really inspired actually,” observed Caldwell, noting that they felt better connected to information and local social networks.

Mama Joe’s Legacy of Community Service

Who was Mama Joe?

“She loved people. She loved her community. Not your typical pastor. She was radical with prayer and praise,” remembers Caldwell. Those words capture a woman whose death represented a profound loss not only to her large family and friends but also to the community she served.

The story of Mama Joe, as told in the documentary through interviews with her family and friends, highlights her work in community health advocacy, her role as a caregiver, and finally the difficulties she experienced due to her illness from Alzheimer’s disease.

Mama Joe was the fifth of ten children and was brought up in a poor area of Jacksonville, Illinois; her father died of tuberculosis when she was still a child, and she suffered from hunger, family instability, and sexual abuse.

She married Paul Caldwell in 1965 and had four children — Paula, Joy, Kristi, and Herb. Her family would grow through adoption and the informal embracing of others as her own: Barbara, Andre, Bryan, Antonio, Maurice, Latisha, and Ronald.

She was described as a beacon, fearless, a savior, a healer of sexual abuse survivors, and a mother to “a million and one people.”

Her community service began with providing weekend and evening meals to volunteers. She later worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters as a volunteer and caseworker, served multiple terms on the local school board, and ran job-skills training, food assistance programs, and a clothing closet.

Driven by the hardships and tragedies of her childhood, Mama Joe developed a deep empathy for children, people living in poverty, and others who were vulnerable. That commitment led her to found the Faith Social Services Center, a nonprofit organization often referred to as “the soup kitchen,” which also offered recreational leagues, after-school programs, and music production.

As a pastor, Mama Joe took her ministry beyond the walls of a church, showing up in fatigues, jumpsuits, or clerical attire at sick bays, rehabilitation centers, and even townships near Johannesburg, South Africa.

In the documentary, Caldwell recounts his mother’s decision to serve as a minister in a South African church rather than meet Nelson Mandela.

“You can’t talk about my mother and not mention her faith because it was her faith that compelled her to love and serve others without regard to their race, sex, religious belief, income level, or any other factor,” he says.

According to Caldwell, his mother was honored by mayors, governors, and even the White House as the 944th “Point of Light.” Smiling, he recalls that she famously hugged President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush rather than offering a formal handshake.

During her 80 years, Mama Joe fought for the voiceless, gave support to young people who were in legal difficulties, and helped survivors of abuse. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease appearing early in life eventually obliged her to stop the community work which had been such a major part of her life.

Coming to Terms with Alzheimer’s

Before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Mama Joe’s family began noticing memory lapses and episodes of disorientation. Following her diagnosis, her large extended family would spend the next two decades helping to care for her.

Over the years, they learned firsthand that caregiving requires strong support systems — not only to maintain the quality of life of the person receiving care but also to prevent caregiver exhaustion and burnout.

Daughter Joy Oliver remembers a visit to a neurologist. “He ran all the tests, did the official test…we got the results, and he did confirm that it was, excuse me, early-onset Alzheimer’s,” she said.

As happens in many families, much of the primary caregiving responsibility fell to Oliver. “I knew it was no question. We would serve her. We would do whatever we had to do to make sure she stayed healthy and that she enjoyed her life, however long that was,” she says, describing her caregiving journey.

“For me, the hardest part was not just the fact that the burden was primarily just on my family and me, but to me the hardest weight was the responsibility,” remembers Oliver.

Oliver also recognizes the stresses of caregiving and the importance of respite and self-care. “Because it’s easy to slip into depression. It’s easy to totally ignore yourself because you have to take care of yourself first,” she said.

During her interview, Angelita Howard, Ed.D., MBA, of the Meharry School of Global Health, reinforces the importance of Black caregivers taking care of their own physical and emotional health. “There is a stigma in Black communities of color about mental health and about going to counseling and therapy,” she noted, stressing the importance of reaching out for help.

Taking care of Mama Joe involved multiple generations, including her grandchildren. Her grandson Jonah Oliver describes how he coped with the stress of caregiving. “With the stress and just dealing with my feelings, swimming has just been really therapeutic,” he says.

Grandson Noah Oliver also describes how caregiving affected his schooling.  “I went through a small depression at this time. I wasn’t submitting assignments, lying about stuff…And in my head I was justifying it. I was like I got to take care of my people. I’ll be OK. I can do that stuff later. And it didn’t get done later,” he admitted.

These family accounts make one of the documentary’s most important points: Alzheimer’s disease does not just affect the person diagnosed. Its impact can ripple through an entire family and across generations.

Alzheimer’s and Health Disparities

Mama Joe’s situation also leads to several questions about Alzheimer’s disease, racial disparities in health care, and whether families have sufficient support when they become caregivers. These questions are examined throughout the documentary.

“Black people are approximately two to three times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than their white counterparts,” says Erin R. Hascup, Ph.D., executive director of the Dale and Deborah Smith Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment.

Scholar and activist Okey Enyia, Dr.P.H., points to systemic factors contributing to those disparities.  “A fundamental reason why there are stark disparities and stark inequities is because of structural racism and the various ways in which it manifests across the healthcare system,” he says.

The documentary also points to a lack of resources and education in communities of color, along with geographic and transportation barriers that can make obtaining diagnosis, treatment, and support services more difficult.

Community-based interventions and culturally relevant approaches — including caregiver support groups, churches serving as trusted hubs for information and memory-care programs — may offer promising ways to address these disparities. Increasing participation by diverse communities in Alzheimer’s research is also essential to developing treatments that work effectively across populations.

Caldwell and his siblings also came face to face with the complexities of insurance, Medicare, and a medical system that was not always well-equipped to support families dealing with dementia.

As Mama Joe’s dementia progressed, complications from medication, multiple strokes, and her increasing disabilities forced her family to become increasingly assertive advocates for her care.

Mama Joe died as a result of the operation, and her family and friends held a cheerful “homegoing” service to honor her legacy and the span of her service. One of her relatives spoke about the grief caused, the loss of motivation, and the great effect of her departure.

Documentary Deeply Moves RI Aging Advocates

As Annie Murphy, Senior Program Manager with the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter, points out, this documentary presents a genuine account of the experiences of family members, friends, and the wider community as they support a person with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia.

“As Murphy pointed out, caregiving often imposes an emotional, financial, and at times a spiritual strain on the people who look after their loved ones. With the viewpoint of a son coming from a large Black American family, she stated that the PBS film gave us the hope that community, faith, love, and endurance can indeed make a real difference in the life of a person who has dementia.”

She said, “Documentaries which aim to raise awareness—such as the Mama Joe Project—are important in increasing the impact that this disease has on our communities. They show the need for greater cooperation between state and federal services, community members, friends, family, and faith communities when supporting those affected.”

Markeisha J. Miner, JD, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Rhode Island, stated that “The Mama Joe Project is a must-watch documentary for anyone who is going through ‘the long goodbye’ with a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia” and added that “it is a beautiful reflection of her life and legacy because it keeps her dignity and humanity at the center throughout”.

She also stated that the film effectively combines Mama Joe’s own journey with appropriate and culturally sensitive input from scholars and care professionals. In the end, the project enables communities to rely on one another, to ask the right questions, and to find the proper support.

“Watching My Mama Joe was a moving experience,” Carol Anne Costa, executive director of the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI), said, the organization having teamed up with filmmaker Caldwell to show the documentary in the Ocean State.

As Costa put it, he has created a powerful and moving portrayal that pays respect to both his mother and to the millions of families experiencing the Alzheimer’s and caregiving journey.

She observed that the documentary includes the voices of relatives, doctors, and researchers, offering a variety of viewpoints on aging, dementia, and caregiving.

As Costa pointed out, the real worth of the film lies in providing a platform for the people who live within this reality and those who study it. She also said that combining art with real-life experience is an effective way to help audiences learn about and empathize with this struggle.

In conclusion, George Andoscia, Program Manager of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Program, provides his assessment: “The My Mama Joe Hope & Help documentary admirably portrays the experiences of a person who has dementia and of the family members who become carers. Not only does the account of Mama Joe and her family, the interviews with subject matter experts, and the resources offered in this documentary make it a deeply personal presentation, but they also give it a highly educational character.”

A Final Note…

The interviews woven throughout Caldwell’s documentary provide a powerful case study of community health advocacy, the challenges of family caregiving, and the continuing need to address racial disparities in health care.

At its core, My Mama Joe: Hope & Help shows what Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving are really like. The book demonstrates the real effect that a dementia diagnosis has on a family, emphasizing the change in responsibilities, the increasing number of younger people taking on caregiving roles, and the difficulty involved in dealing with complicated healthcare and insurance systems.

The documentary also has the potential to increase awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementias and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health counseling and seeking assistance in communities of color.

It brings the topic of care directly to the attention of policymakers: There is a need for support on the part of families who are looking after relatives with Alzheimer’s disease.  The nation’s aging policy agenda must include efforts to improve access to culturally appropriate dementia services, strengthen support for caregivers, increase the involvement of underrepresented communities in Alzheimer’s research, and address existing health disparities.

Mama Joe spent much of her life advocating for people whose voices were often overlooked.  Through this documentary, her family has made certain that her story — and the lessons it offers about Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving, and service to others — will never be forgotten.

To watch Caldwell’s documentary, go to My Mama Joe: Hope & Help | PBS.

Cooling Heated Political Banter at the Christmas Dinner

Published in RINewsToday on December 22, 2025

Over the years, nearly everyone has encountered an iconic archetype at holiday gatherings: “Uncle Bob.” At Christmas dinner, Bob predictably launches into uncomfortable political arguments. Other family members scramble to avoid his decisive political chatter—some using humor, others retreating to watch football games on the tube or quickly starting side conversations to dodge conflict.

Last December, the American Psychological Association (APA) released survey findings that underscored just how common—and stressful—these moments have become at Christmas gatherings. Following a divisive presidential election, most U.S. adults said they wanted to avoid political discussions at the dinner table during the holidays, especially with family members whose views differed from their own.

According to the APA survey, released on Dec. 10, 2024, more than 7 in 10 adults (72%) hoped to not talk politics with family during the holidays. While 65% said they were not worried that political discussions would damage relationships, nearly 2 in 5 adults (39%) reported feeling stressed at the thought of politics arising at holiday gatherings.

The survey’s findings also indicated that nearly 2 in 5 adults (38%) said they are avoiding family they disagree with over the holidays. Younger adults were significantly more likely than adults 65 or older to say they plan to avoid family over the holidays (45% adults ages 18–34, 47% ages 35–44, 42% ages 45–54, and 32% ages 55–64 vs. 23% ages 65+).

Fast forward to today: political disagreements within families have not disappeared, maybe even intensified, and the upcoming Christmas season may once again be ripe for tension and emotional strain and stress.

A Surprising Strategy for Reducing Political Conflict

New research, however, may offer a practical way to cool political tensions before they ruin a Christmas gathering. According to research published by the American Psychological Association, (APA), when engaging in political discussions, talking about what you oppose—rather than what you support—can make others more open to your views.

“In an era of deepening political polarization, our research offers a counterintuitive insight into how we can better communicate across ideological lines: Talk about what you oppose, not what you support,” said lead author Rhia Catapano, PhD, of the University of Toronto, in a Dec. 15, 2025 statement announcing the findings.

In a series of experiments involving more than 10,000 participants, researchers examined how people express their political opinions and how framing—support versus opposition—affects how others respond. The study, Talking About What We Support Versus Oppose Affects Others’ Openness to Our Views, was published online in the Dec. 15, 2025, issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

In one experiment, people were randomly chosen to either provide their viewpoint on sensitive issues like abortion and gun control or hear someone else’s perspective on the same issue. All participants were told they were paired with someone who did not share their views, although no actual matching occurred.

Messages were carefully framed to express either support or opposition to a particular issue. For example, a statement supporting abortion message might read, “I support allowing abortions,” while a message framed in opposition would read, “I oppose abortion bans.”

Senders rated how persuasive they believed their messages would be in swaying their imaginary receiver. Receivers were asked to respond to messages from imaginary senders, reporting how closely the messages aligned with their values and whether they were open to reconsidering their own views.

Although senders believed support-framed messages would be more persuasive, the opposite was true. Receivers were significantly more open to messages framed in terms of opposition.

In a different experiment, researchers recruited Reddit users, creating a simulated Reddit environment in which participants could choose which post to read and engage in. Participants were more likely to select and engage with opposition-framed posts than those framed around support.

What Catapano found most striking was how subtle the change in framing actually was.

All of the actual arguments were the same for both framings, Catapano explained. Simply changing the wording of the first sentence from ‘I support X’ to ‘I oppose Y’—where Y represented the other side of the issue—was enough to increase receptiveness, she says.

How receptive people are to messages is affected not only by the arguments themselves, Catapano added, but by something as small as a single word in how those arguments are introduced.

Here’s the takeaway: small changes in how we talk about our beliefs can have outsized effects on how others respond—an insight with clear relevance for holiday conversations.

Setting Boundaries and Protecting Your Health

Two UT Southwestern Medical Center faculty members also offered guidance in a Nov. 21, 2024 MedBlog article, “Boundaries, respect, keys to political discussions at holiday family gatherings.”

Cameron W. Davis, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry, suggests the importance of setting  personal boundaries and identify “hot” and “cold” topics before attending the family gathering to reduce the likelihood of hostile exchanges.

Sarah Woods, PhD, associate professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, notes that strained family relationships—often intensified by clashing opinions—can have serious short- and long-term health consequences. Her research findings indicate that strained family dynamics are linked to higher rates of chronic conditions.

According to Woods, stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that acts as the body’s alarm system. Elevated cortisol levels can disrupt sleep, trigger headaches, increase inflammation, reduce pain tolerance, and cause shortness of breath.

Practical Do’s and Don’ts for Holiday Conversations

In their MedBlog, Drs. Davis and Woods offered the following practical advice to help keep Christmas dinner civil if political banter begins to heat up:

·         Communicate respectfully. Focus on presenting facts and ideas when discussing politics and avoid making personal attacks.

·         Set emotional boundaries.Pay close attention to your internal stress responses. Taking a deep breath before and during politically charged conversations can help you stay grounded.

·         Prepare in advance.No one knows how to push your buttons like a family member. Practice how you’ll respond to difficult relatives at the family gathering—and avoid pushing their buttons in return.

·         Focus on understanding others, not winning your point. Conflict is a natural part of relationships, and understanding this can help you develop the skills needed to address it.  effectively. Acknowledging another person’s perspective doesn’t weaken your own positions. The goal to reach is having respect for the other person’s views, not, victory.

According to Drs. Davis and Woods, being able to listen carefully is a useful skill when talking about political issues that make you uncomfortable.  If you decide to discuss politics at the Christmas dinner table, focus on truly hearing the other person rather than reacting impulsively. When responding, do it in a thoughtful way that reflect your values and understanding, they say.

The MedBlog authors also noted that it’s It’s helpful to identify an ally—someone you trust and feel safe with—where you can speak openly about your position on political issues that might come up at Christmas dinner or beyond.  This allows you to “practice authenticity, think openly, and experience non-judgement listing.” This doesn’t have to be someone who agrees with you politically, but rather someone who helps create a buffer zone of emotional safety, they say.

If conversations become heated, resist making impulsive decisions about cutting them off—or cutting family members or friends out of your life, recommend Drs. Davis and Woods, recommending:  Ask yourself: Is this a disagreement worth damaging a family relationship or friendship? Would quickly acting drain energy from other priorities right now?

Drs. Davis and Woods advise that if politics come up, don’t insist others agree with you or pressure them into debate. Step back from discussions that feel emotionally draining to you, you’re not obligated to participate. Politely declining, redirecting the topic, or gauging someone’s willingness to talk can prevent unnecessary tension.

Finally, having a plan can reduce stress, too. If you’re attending a gathering with a spouse or partner, get on the same page beforehand. Decide which topics are off-limits and how long you want to stay. Create a subtle signal—a hand gesture, a wink, or a touch on the shoulder—to defuse tension and awkward moments or cue your partner to step in.

A Final Note… Over the years, when I go to Christmas gatherings, my son, and I often differ on politics and other issues. When we don’t see eye to eye, I simply say, “Well, we can agree to disagree.” That usually settles the discussion once and for all.

Enjoy your Christmas gathering.

Study: One in Five Americans Are Unpaid Family Caregivers

Published in the Woonsocket Call on May 17, 2020

As the nation sees a growing number of aging baby boomers, workforce shortages in health care and long-term care settings, increased state funding for community-based services, and a growing number of seniors requiring assistance in their daily activities, caregivers are needed more than ever. According to a recently released report from National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and AARP, an increasing number of unpaid family caregivers are stepping up to the plate to care for their older family members or friends. The caregiver report’s findings indicate that the number of family caregivers in the United States increased by 9.5 million from 2015 (43.5 million) to 2020 (53 million) and now encompasses more than one in five Americans (19 percent).

First conducted in 1997, with follow up surveys in 2004, 2009 and 2015, the Caregiving in the U.S. studies are one of the most comprehensive resources describing the American caregiver. Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 was conducted by Greenwald &a Associates using a nationally representative, probability-based online panel. More than 1,700 caregivers who were age 18 or older participated in the survey in 2019.

Demand for Caregiving Rising as Nation’s Population Gets Older

The 107-page Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 report also reveals that family caregivers are in worse health compared to five years ago. As the demand for caregiving rises with the graying of the nation’s population, the report calls for more be done to support this vital work.

“As we face a global pandemic, we’re relying on friends and family to care for the older adults and people living with disabilities in our lives,” notes C. Grace Whiting, JD, President and CEO of NAC, in a May 14 statement announcing the release of this report. “Caregivers are essential to the nation’s public health, and the magnitude of millions of Americans providing unpaid care means that supporting caregivers can no longer be ignored, she says, noting that report’s findings reveals that growing need.

According to Whiting, family caregivers care for more people than five years ago and they take on more care responsibilities as roughly one in four care for two or more people. “Many individuals are caring for a longer time, with nearly a third (29 percent) of caregivers nationwide reporting they have been caregiving for five years or more—up from 24 percent in the last study,” states Whiting.

Who are today’s caregivers?

This new caregiver study shows that 39 percent are men and 61 percent are women. The average age is 49.4 years. The profile of the family caregiver is also changing, too. While caregiving spans across all generations, Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 found more young people providing care, including 6 percent who are Gen Z and 23 percent who are Millennials. Nearly half (45 percent) are caring for someone with two or more conditions—a significant jump from 37 percent in 2015.

As to ethnicity, the caregiver report notes that six in 10 are non-Hispanic White (61 percent), 17 percent are Hispanic, and 14 percent are African American.

The report’s findings indicate that one in 10 of the caregiver survey respondents are enrolled in college or taking classes (11 percent), 9 percent have served in the military and 8 percent self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender.

Caregivers in Poorer Health, Feeling Financial Strain

Caregiving in the U.S. 2020 also found that caregivers face health challenges of their own with nearly a quarter (23 percent of caregivers find it hard to take care of their own health and 23 percent say caregiving has made their health worse. The report also notes that personal finances are a concern for family caregivers: 28 percent have stopped saving money, 23 percent have taken on more debt and 22 percent have used up personal short-term savings.
Sixty one percent of the caregiver respondents work and have difficulty in coordinating care.

The May 2020 caregiver report states on average, caregivers spend 23.7 hours a week providing care, with one in three (32 percent) providing care for 21 hours or more, and one in five (21 percent) providing care for 41+ hours—the equivalent of a full-time unpaid job.

“The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating the challenges family caregivers were already facing from a personal health, financial and emotional standpoint,” said Susan Reinhard, RN, PhD, Senior Vice President at AARP. “Family caregivers provide vital help and care for their loved ones, yet this survey shows that they keep getting stretched thinner and thinner. We must identify and implement more solutions to support family caregivers—both in the short term as we grapple with coronavirus and in the long term as our population ages and the number of family caregivers declines.”

: “Without greater explicit support for family caregivers in coordination among the public and private sectors and across multiple disciplines overall care responsibilities will likely intensify and place greater pressure on individuals within families, especially as baby boomers move into old age,” warns the report’s authors, calling on Congress and state lawmakers to develop policies that ensure that caregivers do not suffer deteriorating health effects and financial insecurity.

Thoughts from AARP Rhode Island…

“The wealth of information in this report is an essential guide to policymakers,” said AARP Rhode Island State Director Kathleen Connell. “It reveals important trends and underlines future needs. For AARP, it provides information on how, as an organization, we can best serve Rhode Island’s 136,000 family caregivers. The challenges they face vary, making it very important that we can provide focused resources that meet any one caregiver’s needs. The report’s overall takeaway – that the number of caregivers is rising dramatically – is a call for increased awareness and support. This responsibility starts at the very top of federal, state and municipal government and flows all the way down to family members who can better share caregiving responsibilities. Many will be asked to step outside their comfort zone, so we all will have to work together,” adds Connell.

Connell noted that the report points out the shift from traditional residential health care settings to community-based settings. “The research reaches a clear conclusion,” Connell observed. “Families will have to fill new roles, learn new skills and absorb more out of pocket caregiving expenses. This will create additional the stress for many family caregivers. That’s why it is so important that we develop the training, tools and other resources caregivers require.”

A 2019 AARP report, Valuing the Invaluable, calculated that Rhode Island family caregivers provide 114 million unpaid hours of care annually. Based on the average $15.76 per hour wages of paid caregivers, family caregivers represent an economic value of an estimated $1.8 billion.

The 2020 study was funded by AARP, Best Buy Health Inc. d/b/a Great Call, EMD Serono Inc., Home Instead Senior Care®, The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, The John A. Hartford Foundation, TechWerks, Transamerica Institute, and UnitedHealthcare.

For a copy of Caregiving in the U.S. 2020, go to
https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2020/05/full-report-caregiving-in-the-united-states.doi.10.26419-2Fppi.00103.001.pdf.