The majority of long-term services and supports are provided by family members. But the supply of family caregivers is unlikely to keep pace with future demand. (1) The following report defines a "caregiver support ratio" as the number of potential caregivers aged 45-64 for each person aged 80 and older. The report uses this support ratio to estimate the availability of family caregivers during the next few decades. (2) In 2010, the caregiver support ratio was more than 7 potential caregivers for every person in the high-risk years of 80-plus. (3) By 2030, the ratio is projected to decline sharply to 4 to 1; and it is expected to further fall to less than 3 to 1 in 2050, when all boomers will be in the high-risk years of late life.
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