New data found Americans underestimate care costs for kids and seniors in New York and nationwide. The Care Disconnect survey showed most Americans do not understand how much caring for an older loved one or a child can cost the average family.
A separate AARP report found around 4 million New Yorkers provided care for an older family member valued at $58 million.
Brigid Schulte, director of the Better Life Lab at New America, said on the polling side, there are shifts about who should be responsible for paying for care.
“There was a very overwhelming majority that said families cannot do this alone anymore and that both government and business have a role to play in helping families pay for, navigate and manage care costs throughout their lives,” Schulte explained.
The survey noted people have misconceptions about how government-funded senior care works. People think Medicare for people 65 and older covers long-term care costs, when in fact, Medicaid only does this for low-income seniors. For middle-income families, this means “spending down” until they’re poor enough to qualify for Medicaid.
Meanwhile, the survey showed a series of disconnects regarding childcare. While more than half of respondents believe everyone has an interest in strong childcare systems, 60% said they have no direct knowledge of the need or quality.
Elliot Haspel, culture of care narrative fellow for Better Life Lab, said advocates and elected officials must be more specific as they inform people about the costs.
“Being able to say childcare rivals rent and mortgage costs in most areas; something that can define the terms better so we’re not just using phrases like unaffordable or too expansive because that doesn’t actually anchor listeners,” Haspel observed.
The poll found almost half of Americans thought childcare costs fall below $10,000 but the Economic Policy Institute reported New York childcare costs more than $18,000 per year, more than the cost of in-state tuition at a four-year college.
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.