Local experts urge policy and community changes as caregiving gap widens

Columbus — Leaders and advocates at a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum on caregiving on Oct. 27, 2025, outlined new policy steps and local programs to support unpaid family caregivers and urged broader public- and private-sector changes as the pool of potential family caregivers shrinks.

"We need to normalize caregiving. It is society's obligation to make sure that we're embracing it," said Jenny Carlson, state director of AARP Ohio, who recommended a three-pronged approach of education, activation and innovation including legislative and workforce changes.

Why it matters: Panelists said demographic trends and rising care needs will increase pressure on families and public programs. Carlson cited AARP figures showing that in 2010 there were about seven potential family caregivers for every person aged 80 and older; that ratio is expected to fall to about four-to-one by 2030 and under three-to-one by 2050. The panelists described steps already underway in Ohio and locally to ease the burden on caregivers and to expand paid and unpaid supports.

Panelists emphasized a recent change to Ohio's home- and community-based waiver services that took effect in October 2024 allowing eligible family members who live with a waiver recipient to participate in "structured family caregiving." "If you're a caregiver and you are caring for and living in the home of someone that's on one of the waiver programs ... you can be not only reimbursed financially for your work, but also you can now have access to…