At left is Myles Copeland.

By Mary Alice Murphy

The Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce featured Aging and Long-Term Services Cabinet Secretary Myles Copeland at its monthly luncheon on Thursday, May 5.

Copeland has been in the department since 2013, after working for the Alzheimer's Association, and was named cabinet secretary in 2015.

"I am going to speak on things you can do to support your employees who are taking care of a family member," Copeland said.

He cited statistics showing that 419,000 New Mexicans serve as family caregivers annually, with 287,000 doing so at any one time. They contribute an average 18.4 hours unpaid care weekly with a value of $274 million a year.

"We acknowledge how important this care is," Copeland said. "What role do you play as an employer?

"The caregivers have probably asked for help," he continued. "When we're taking care of a parent or spouse, we want to make sure they're safe. Realize that if you weren't doing it, it would cost the state. You take a burden off New Mexico."

Nationally, caregivers provide 80 percent of long-term care and contribute $306 billion annually. He also said two-thirds of caregivers are self-neglecting.

In the planning process for the New Mexico State Plan for Family Caregivers, the AARP did a telephone survey of 1,000 registered voters older than 45 years. The survey oversampled rural counties and did follow-up calls to non-English speaking households. The survey identified caregiver needs and current resources and the department identified strategies to bridge the gaps by developing the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center.

He noted the problems would only be exacerbated in this century with the aging population. New Mexico's 80+ population would increase by 80.5 percent by 2030. Nationally in 2010 the ratio of potential caregivers from the ages of 45-64 for each person aged 80 or older was 7 to 1. It will drop to 4 to 1 in 2030 and 3 to 1 by 2050.

Sixty percent of family caregivers are women. Higher percentages of Hispanic than non-Hispanic Whites serve as family caregivers. The number of Native Americans aged older than 75 years will double in the next 25 years, and caregiver ratio will be further reduced by out-migration from reservations.

"A caregiver starts out by taking Mom to the doctor, then doing the cooking, then the cleaning, bathing and grooming," Copeland noted. "Nationally, one third of caregivers have more than one recipient they are caring for."

He presented more statistics, with 74 percent of adults with eldercare responsibility having worked while caregiving. Among New Mexicans, 69 percent altered their work schedule or took time off, 34 percent took a leave of absence and 24 percent went from working full-time to part-time.

Caregivers have higher stress and depression, and lower subjective wellbeing and physical health, with the differences low to medium. They move to moderate to severe if taking care of dementia patients. Caregiver risks include heart disease, hypertension and stroke. They also report feeling stressed out emotionally, have difficulty getting enough rest and difficulty exercising regularly.

Many New Mexico caregivers reported having to use their own dollars to provide care and feeling financially strained.

Nationally, family caregivers older than 50 years of age spend more than $5,500 a year out of pocket on average.

Those who leave the workforce to care for a parent lose $303,880 in wages, social security and pensions. The amount rises to $324,044 among women, so they end up not having resources for themselves when they need them.

"Caregivers don't know where to turn for help," Copeland said. "Information about community resources was deemed most helpful."

The Aging and Disability Resource Center helps by assessing needs, determining eligibility for Medicaid or prescription drug assistance.

"We have a database of resources," Copeland said. "We can also help with care transition to move a patient from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility or back home. It is to the hospital's benefit to make sure a person doesn't return to the hospital. The hospital is obligated to designate a caregiver and must train the caregiver to take proper care of the patient when the person gets home.

"Having worked for the Alzheimer's Association, I know that training is transformative," he said. "It doesn't help to argue with the person with dementia. They won't remember. The training shifts people's perspective."

The department offers training around the state, so the knowledge is localized and "you know the people who need it."

The New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition is made up of private home-care agencies.

"People need to do a better job of making decisions before it's too late," Copeland said. "They need to do advanced medical, financial and legal planning to allow for self-determination and ease the caregiver burden."

Planning and training resources are available online at aarp.org and caregiveraction.org.

If you need help with caring for a parent or spouse, visit the http://www.nmaging.state.nm.us/default.aspx, click the for the Aging and Disability Resource Center or call the number, 1-800-432-2080.

He said that healthy aging programs help the elder to maintain independence longer. They include exercise, and healthy eating. "It's not just about the caregiver for herself, but it also gives you more control of your life."

In respite, caregivers need a break from caregiving. Lotsa Helping Hands online can activate more people.

"Most of us live in the gap where we don't have enough to take care of long-term needs, but are not poor enough for Medicaid," Copeland said. "Employers should be encouraged to support employees who are family caregivers. One of our goals is to educate employers about the needs of caregivers. Family caregivers are the ones who take responsibility, and those are the employees we want to keep. It behooves us to keep them working for you. It means flexibility and can take a combination of paid and unpaid leave. Be aware of the challenges the employee faces. Direct your employees to available supports."

To a question, Copeland replied that elders are 60 years of age and older and those with disabilities can be 18 or older.

"What are your capacities locally?" he asked and answered. "Senior Services offers some home-delivered meals, transportation; other groups offer respite care, exercise programs and adult protective services."

Marilyn Alcorn of Adult Care Services asked if there had been closure happening with the closing of offices.

"The Non-Metro Agency on Aging has closed its administrative offices in Deming and Clovis to put more money toward services instead of administration," Copeland replied. "We have been assured you will continue to get services."

"So they haven't added, but have just spread out the work?" Alcorn asked.

"It should be positive," Copeland said.

A man asked what percentage of home health was paid by Medicaid.

Copeland said home health is not paid by Medicaid. The Department of Health does regulate facilities, he said. "My department tries to keep people living in our communities. This plan is intended to come up with things that are doableG

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