People train for marathons, hikes and bike rides. But can you train to withstand the challenges of elder care?
A series of new studies and reports on the emotional, physical and financial challenges of caring for aged or disabled loved ones suggest it might be a good idea. The nearly 1 in 5 Americans who provide elder care face a sharply higher-than-average risk of dying themselves, research shows. And nearly half of U.S. workers say they expect to be providing elder care at some time during the next five years, the Families and Work Institute reports. (This recent SmartMoney piece highlights some of the hidden financial costs of caregiving.)
