1A The Financial Burden Of Caregiving
Nov 13, 2025
Join Emily Peck, an Axios correspondent on economic issues, Beth Pinsker, a MarketWatch columnist, and Dana Lynn Rutherford, president of the Venner-Grin Foundation, as they tackle the skyrocketing costs of in-home care. They discuss the rising expenses caregivers face, explore personal stories highlighting financial stresses, and examine systemic issues around Medicaid and state support. Emotional choices intertwine with practical advice, revealing the complex landscape of caregiving amid economic challenges and workforce shortages.
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Millie’s 24/7 Care Costs
- Dana Lynn describes Millie, her 25-year-old multiply disabled daughter who needs 24/7 care and can't be left alone.
- She reports California and Medicaid cover the majority of Millie's nearly $293,000 annual care costs.
Personal Cost Of Round-The-Clock Care
- Beth Pinsker paid about $3,000 a week for 24/7 in-home caregivers and later over $4,000 a month.
- Long-term care insurance and her mother's savings partially covered these escalating costs.
Low Wages But High Consumer Costs
- Care jobs remain low-paid even as consumer prices for hiring caregivers rise.
- Emily Peck highlights that middlemen firms also increase prices despite low wages for workers.
