A Perfect Storm? The Future of Family Caregiving

This concluding Chapter speculates on the future of caregiving. We can be sure that it will not be a simple extrapolation of the past and present. Strong demographic, health, policy, and economic trends may (or may not) converge to influence how and whether family caregiving will continue in the United States. The personal narratives presented in the initial section of this book emphasize that these changes are likely to resonate with families who carry out the day-to-day care of older persons with health needs. Looking forward to the next several decades, caregiving may be facing the perfect storm. The collision of demography and economics catalyzed by a polarized political atmosphere may place greater pressures on caregivers. While this impending challenge is formidable, Family Caregiving in the New Normal outlines some possible solutions and other emerging forces that may help sustain family caregivers in the future.