Join us for the second session of the Reimagining the Economics of Aging Seminar Series, a monthly virtual forum hosted by the Wealth Equity Lab at The New School.

This series brings together scholars and practitioners to deepen conversations on aging, retirement, and late-life economic security, with a focus on works in progress and active discussion.

On July 1, we will host Andrew Gellert, PhD, Economist at TIAA Institute, for a discussion of new research on how Americans prepare for future caregiving responsibilities. As the U.S. population ages - with one in five residents expected to be age 65 or older by 2030 and 70 percent projected to need caregiving and long-term care during their lifetime - the financial and personal implications of caregiving are becoming increasingly important. Yet relatively little is known about how individuals anticipate and prepare for these responsibilities.

Drawing on survey data from both caregivers and non-caregivers, Gellert will examine how adults plan for providing elder care and what they understand about the demands caregiving may place on them. The research finds that while many adults who expect to become caregivers recognize some aspects of what caregiving will require, they often underestimate its financial, health-related, and other personal impacts, and devote little time to planning or preparing for the role. This session will explore the implications of these findings for individuals, families, and policymakers concerned with aging and long-term care.