Caring for our elders

According to the AARP, while the state’s population is rapidly aging, the number of people entering nursing homes has remained remarkably flat.

That’s likely because more and more people are choosing to stay in their homes during their twilight years.

But there’s a cost to that.

AARP says there are more than 3 million unpaid family caregivers in Texas, most of them looking after an aging spouse, parent or friend. Their unpaid contributions are valued at $34 billion annually.

As the Baby Boom generation gets grayer, both of those numbers are expected to grow, as will the need to increase the resources made available to this population.

Finding ways to support not only the elderly, but also those who are caring for them, is a critical challenge for the Lone Star State.

In fact, it is a concern big enough to warrant a mention from the governor in his State of the State Address.

Gov. Greg Abbott’s budget proposal includes $105.3 million to recruit and retain personal attendants and provide increased opportunities for independent home- and community-based living options.

The Legislature should also make serving this population a priority this session.

This story was originally published February 20, 2015 at 7:31 PM with the headline "Caring for our elders."