Wilber, Kathleen

Objectives and Methods: This study compares carers and non-carers as regards experiences of harmful financial events during and immediately after the Great Recession. Findings: Carer status was associated with experiencing more negative financial events since the Great Recession began, even after controlling for covariates in a negative binomial regression. Carers had higher odds of reporting: job loss; moving in with family and friends to save money; and selling possessions to make ends meet.

Family caregivers are the cornerstone of the long-term supports and services infrastructure in the United States, yet they often contend with many challenges related to this role. Public policy has been slow to change, leaving many caregivers vulnerable to health and economic consequences. Using models of policy making, we identify barriers to advancing policies that support family caregivers and overcome policy drift. We draw on discussions from the California Task Force on Family Caregiving as it prepares state policy recommendations.