Elder care from family members

According to official estimates, there are currently over 50 thousand older adults in Boulder County that are at least 60 years old. 13,000 are at or over the age of 75. This aging population is often cared for by family members which can place a huge burden on families. Veronica Balderas Iglesias reports.

[audio http://objects-us-east-1.dream.io/kgnu-news/2014/07/Caregiving.mp3]

Vice president of Hospice Analytics, Jennifer Ballentine, conducting a workshop on advance care planning for physician assistant students at the University of Colorado.

Lori Ramos became a caregiver after her mother Lupe Vigil Smith survived a massive stroke, was paralyzed on her right side and suffered from Expressive Aphasia for eight years. Lupe passed away in 2009 and now Lori shares her caregiver expertise with others through her website www.carepartnersresource.com and her focus groups with Latino Age Wave.

For six years, Marisa Raygoza took care of her mother Isabel Garcia Beltran, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Isabel passed away on June 25, 2014. Marisa warns of the challenges caregivers often face and advises other caregivers to plan ahead and reach out to the community for support.