LONG DISTANCE CAREGIVING STATISTICS

* 7 million Americans provide 80% of the care to ailing or vulnerable family members.

* There are approximately 3.3 million long distance caregivers.

* Caregivers live an average of 480 miles from the people for whom they care.

* Caregivers spend an average of 4 hours traveling to that person.

* Caregivers, on average, spent 35 hours of care each month (just short of one work week) giving care.

* 15 million days are missed from work each year because of long distance care giving.

* The average age of a long distance caregiver is 46 years old.

* The number of long distance caregivers will DOUBLE over the next 15 years.

* The average age of the care recipient is 78 years old.

Source:  Long Distance Caregiver Project-Alzheimer's Association LA and Riverside, Los Angeles, CA (May 15, 2002, National Web Seminar by Judith Delaney, MFT, Clinical Coordinator)