TIME BANKING AND SOCIAL ISOLATION: PROVIDING INFORMAL CARE AND RESPITE

Abstract

AbstractCaregivers need care and respite. Social isolation is deadly. The scale is vast and growing. Approximately 34.2 million Americans have provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in the prior 12 months. As baby-boomers age, both formal health and informal care systems will be challenged to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding elderly population. Informal care, often fragile and fragmented, continues to be the bedrock enabling the elderly and disabled to remain in their communities. Nonetheless, State Plans on Aging and responses to the Olmstead mandate consistently fail to designate strengthening that informal system as a priority.Health care professionals need to learn about Time Banking as a cost-effective strategy proven to reduce social isolation, strengthen informal care systems, reduce resort to institutional care, engage seniors in their communities. Peer reviewed articles and studies have documented effectiveness. One study conducted by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York found that 100% of elderly members benefited from TimeBank membership; 79% reported their membership provided support needed to remain in their homes as they get older.Presenters will provide TimeBanking basics: enlisting members, matchmaking, generating transactions, creating organizational infrastructure, liability and tax issues. We will share experience to date, design features and options, software to generate and track transactions, types of reports, range of applications, framing and acceptance by different ethnic groups, outcome measurements, network contacts, funding and sustainability strategies. Evaluation reports and sample grant applications will be made available.