Aging in place, surrounded by familiar places, faces and memories, can provide a sense of comfort and independence. Being an aging nation also means becoming a nation of caregivers, one that requires a new system of support. For most older Americans, care will come from unpaid family members or friends, who contributed around $600 billion worth of free labor to the economy in 2021, according to AARP. Starting in the mid-1990s, he spent several years caring for his mother, who suffered from schizophrenia and lung cancer. With increasing frequency, he shuttled between his home in upstate New York and hers in South Carolina, taking her to medical appointments.

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Persons: Dwane Hodges, “, ” Organizations: AARP Locations: North Carolina, New York, South Carolina