Laura Carstensen, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Stanford University

I think that it is very important that it be clear that it is a political issue. The issue is being treated as a personal one, and caregivers feel like that's the way they are supposed to approach it, go get their friends and see if they can put together some way to get through, day to day. Whereas other kinds of common healthcare situations are well covered by insurance. Deciding what is covered and what's not is a political issue.

"It is a political issue. This is also a gender issue."

This is also a gender issue. Women are providing the majority of this care and 40 percent of caregiving women are also caring for children under 18 in their own homes at the same time they are providing care for an older relative. So caregiving citizens need to rally together and advocate that health care reform can help remedy this situation.

Issues that Matter | Caregiving Professionals Forum