skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, September 20, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Wyoming Family Caregivers Provide $980 Million in Unpaid Care

play audio
Play

Thursday, November 14, 2019   

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Some 74,000 unpaid caregivers in Wyoming provide an estimated 62 million hours of care each year, valued at $980 million, according to AARP's latest Valuing the Invaluable report.

Sam Shumway, state director of AARP Wyoming, says caregivers are a crucial component of the health care system in Wyoming and it's important to continue to support them.

"Without those people providing transportation and help around the house, without those caregivers, those individuals would end up either paying for that care out of their own pocket, or the state of Wyoming would end up paying for those individuals," he states.

Unpaid caregivers also help Wyoming taxpayers by making it possible for people to age in their homes, which most older residents prefer.

The average cost of in-home care through Wyoming Home Services is $1,500 per year, compared with $51,000 a year for state-funded nursing homes.

Shumway says the report also is an opportunity to put a spotlight on an army of people working without pay or recognition caring for family members and neighbors.

He adds that Wyoming could help lighten the load by implementing a self-directed care program, similar to efforts under way through Medicaid and the Veterans Administration.

"Through just reimbursing the costs of transportation, or some of these folks need to take time off work,” he states. “If we could support that a little more directly, we could help keep people in their homes, and we could grow that caregiver pool."

Last year AARP Wyoming worked with lawmakers on ways the state could invest in home and community-based services that help residents age in home.

In 2019, the state Legislature increased funding for the Wyoming Home Services Program by $225,000, and Wyoming Senior Centers another $225,000.

Disclosure: AARP Wyoming contributes to our fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Health Issues, Housing/Homelessness, Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …


Social Issues

play sound

This Saturday marks the International Day of Peace and the advocacy group Nonviolent Peaceforce is kicking off a series of family-friendly events in M…

Environment

play sound

Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…


Nebraska is one of 10 states to confirmed abortion-related constitutional amendment measures on the ballot in November. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Some ballot initiatives this year have taken more than voter signatures to get onto the ballot in Nebraska. They've already withstood major court …

Environment

play sound

Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

Social Issues

play sound

A new study showed as Texas has emerged as a national leader in wind turbine and solar energy installations, clean energy workers often face …

play sound

Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021