National Council on Aging and Caring.com Announce Innovative Help for Adult Children Caring for Aging Parents

Contact:
Georgiana B. Bloom
georgiana.bloom@ncoa.org
202.609.6935

Danielle Simmons for Caring.com
danielle@dmsprsf.com
650.991.8899
 
Free Service Provides Benefits Information 

Washington, DC  - The National Council on Aging (NCOA) and Caring.com are pleased to announce  the availability of  NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp® tool on Caring.com, the leading online resource for adult children caring for an aging parent or loved one.

As the most comprehensive, free, web-based service for benefits screening, BenefitsCheckUp gives caregivers free access to information on benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources. By making the dynamic resource available on Caring.com, NCOA is expanding the reach of caregiving services to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds nationwide, giving them access to 1,650 public and private benefits programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

The expanded availability of BenefitsCheckUp will also extend access to information and resources needed for quality caregiving for aging parents or older people - whether near or far away -  while easing the stress on their adult caregivers.

"It can be very difficult caring for an older, ailing parent or relative when children live nearby, but when they are separated by hundreds or even thousands of miles, it can be a practical, emotional and expensive challenge for everyone," said NCOA Senior Vice President Stuart Spector.  "For years, NCOA has been creating new ways to improve the lives of older people and this new relationship between BenefitsCheckUp® and Caring.com adds another dimension to helping adult children care for aging parents with health care and other needs."

Of the 44 million caregivers caring for an aging parent or loved one, nearly one out of every two is a baby boomer.  Numbering 78 million and ranging in age from 45 to 63, they're looking for information and resources that can make their role as caregivers easier and less stressful, regardless of whether they are caring for a parent in their home, down the street or in another state. 

"Boomers are working, managing their own households and planning for their own retirement, making it even harder to devote the time and resources necessary for caregiving," said Andy Cohen, co-founder and CEO, Caring.com. "We're excited to give our members another valuable resource to help make important decisions about their parents care, especially those caring for parents on limited budgets." 

Since its launch in 2001, BenefitsCheckUp has helped more than two million seniors and those who care for them find more than $7 billion in annual benefits for which they are eligible.

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About NCOA
The National Council on Aging is a non-profit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans - especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged - and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together non-profit organizations, businesses and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities. For more information, visit www.ncoa.org.

About Caring.com
Caring.com is a community and content web site that provides people who are caring for aging parents with timesaving information to help them make better decisions. Founded in 2007 by a team of people who have taken care of their own aging parents, Caring.com is a free resource to users and is supported by advertisers. Caring.com is backed by leading venture investors DCM and Split Rock Partners. Caring.com is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and can be reached at http://www.caring.com.