New PSAs for Caregiver Assistance Campaign Encourage “Real Talk about Care,” Promote AARP’s Resources for Caregivers
There are currently 40 million family caregivers nationwide who provide 37 billion unpaid hours of care for their parents, spouses, partners and other adult loved ones each year. If these caregivers were paid, the care provided would be worth an estimated $470 billion.
While the financial and emotional impact on many family caregivers is significant, a recent AARP survey shows that African-American caregivers are disproportionately affected, with more than half reporting moderate emotional stress and one-third of caregivers reporting that they experience financial strain. By comparison, African-American caregivers devote more than 34% of their annual income to expenses associated with providing care, while white caregivers devote 14%, primarily due to lower average household incomes among African-Americans.
To raise awareness and provide support for family caregivers, AARP and the Ad Council are launching a new series of PSAs called “Real Talk About Care.” The campaign aims to highlight the tools and resources available to improve the lives of both African-American caregivers and their loved ones. The PSAs were created pro bono by advertising agency Spike DDB, headed by iconic filmmaker Spike Lee, with the backing and resources of the global DDB network.
As part of the new campaign launch, Dr. Janet Taylor, NYC community psychiatrist and frequent contributor to Good Morning America, CBS This Morning and The Today Show, will join Edna Kane-Williams, a former caregiver and AARP’s Senior Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, to talk about the unique challenges that African-American caregivers face and discuss the resources that are available for those who bear the responsibility of providing ongoing care for aging relatives and friends. Through AARP’s Caregiving Resource Center at aarp.org/caregiving or by calling 1-877-333-5885, caregivers can access practical health and wellness tips, and connect with a community of experts and fellow caregivers for information, referrals and support.
Dr. Janet Taylor and Edna Kane-Williams discuss:
- The insights that informed the new creative for AARP and the Ad Council’s “Real Talk About Care” campaign
- Unique challenges that African-American caregivers face
- Potential long-term emotional, physical and financial burdens that caregiving responsibilities can have on an individual or family
- How caregivers can seek out and find help for themselves and their loved ones
- The valuable tools and resources that are available through AARP’s Caregiving Resource Center
- How friends and family can support caregivers, particularly during National Family Caregivers Month (November)
About Dr. Janet Taylor:
Dr. Janet Taylor is a community psychiatrist in New York City, the Bronx and Queens. She is a frequently invited public speaker on the subjects of health disparities, stress management and family issues. Dr. Taylor is also a frequent contributor to CBS This Morning, The Today Show, and Good Morning America, on issues of relationships, mental health and work-life balance. Her regular column in Family Circle magazine is titled, “Ask Dr. Janet”. Dr. Taylor has also been featured on three television shows, TV One’s Celebrity Crime Files, Discovery Health and OWN Network’s Facing Trauma and a syndicated talk show, The Jeremy Kyle Show.
About Edna Kane-Williams:
Edna Kane-Williams has more than 25 years of experience in senior management positions in non-profit and for-profit organizations. Her career has focused on the needs of older adults and multicultural communities. Kane-Williams is also a former caregiver, having cared for her mother for several years. She serves as AARP’s Senior Vice President for Multicultural Leadership, focusing on outreach to African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander and LGBT communities.
Interview provided by AARP.
