The declining population will make it even harder to care for elders
toggle caption Claire Harbage/NPR
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maurice White, 75, and Renee DeVigne, 68, are among the millions of family caregivers in the U.S. whose lives center around caring for aging loved ones. The Washington, D.C. couple has gone to extraordinary lengths, into their own retirement years, to take care of family elders.
They've cared for White's mother Evelyn White in their home for 25 years. The retired teacher turned 104 in October. She's one of the last of their elders they will care for.
"There have been 12," said DeVigne. "His father, my mother, and other aunts, uncles, grandparents."
The couple also helps care for DeVigne's dad, who lives in a memory care facility.
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While people are living longer, they're also having fewer children, according to the United Nations . In the U.S., this population shift means caring for parents, grandparents, and other relatives could become even more challenging with fewer family members to pitch in.
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