January 27, 2021

IDEAL RRTC Webinar Series: Policy Solutions to Support Family Caregivers

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

 

 

 

Webinar Summary

This webinar reviewed the current state of informal or family caregiving in the United States, described the research on factors that impact caregiver stress, and discuss various policy solutions at the local, state and national level. According to the AARP, over 43 million adults currently provide unpaid care to family members or friends in the United States, with an estimated economic value of approximately $470 billion in 2017. Almost 40% of all caregivers find their caregiving situation to be emotionally stressful. When caregivers feel they had no choice in assuming their caregiving responsibilities, this percentage increases to 53%. Recent trends that shift care from institutional to home-based settings and the isolating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are creating an even greater sense of urgency to find ways to better support caregivers.

 

Speaker Biography

Robyn Rontal

Robyn Rontal

Policy Analytics Director for the Center for Health and Research Transformation @University of Michigan

Robyn Rontal leads policy, analytics and consulting projects, with over 30 years of experience working with various stakeholders across the healthcare marketplace; providers, purchasers, insurers, consumers and policy-makers. She is a co-PI for the NIDILRR funded “Investigating Disability factors and promoting Environmental Access for Healthy Living,” IDEAL RRTC, promoting the healthy aging of adults with long-term physical impairments and disabilities. In addition, she has provided analytic, grant-writing and project management expertise for several organizations seeking to participate with Medicaid delivery system transformation initiatives. Most recently she led a team providing analysis and recommendations to the State of Michigan to support their COVID-19 response to improve nursing home care. Robyn has a Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University and a Masters of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan.

The content of this webinar has been developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR #90RTHF0001). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this webinar do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

 

This webinar was free and open to the public.