GENDER

More women than men are caregivers: an estimated 66% of caregivers are female. O
ne-third (34%) take care of two or more people, and the average age of a female
caregiver is 48.0.
[The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2009), Caregiving in the U.S. Na
tional Alliance for Caregiving. Washington, DC.] - Updated: November 2012
Male caregivers are less likely to provide personal care, but 24% helped a l
oved one get dressed compared to 28% of female caregivers. 16% of male caregiver
s help with bathing versus 30% of females. 40% of male caregivers use paid assis
tance for a loved one's personal care. Approximately 14.5 million caregivers are
men out of the 43.4% who care for an older family member.
[The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2009), Caregiving in the U.S
. National Alliance for Caregiving. Washington, DC.] - Updated: November 2012
The gender balance shifts to close to equal participation among 18 to 49 year-ol
d-care recipients (47% of caregivers are male), while among the 50+ recipients,
it tips to females (32% male, 68% female).
[The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2009), Caregiving in the U.S. Na
tional Alliance for Caregiving. Washington, DC.] - Updated: November 2012
AGE
While caregivers are found across the age span, the average age of caregiver is
48.0 years; about 51% of caregivers are between the ages of 18 and 49.
[The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2009), Caregiving in the U.S., B
ethesda, MD: National Alliance for Caregiving. Washington, DC.] - Updated: Novem
ber 2012
Relationships between Caregivers and Care Recipients
The percentage of caregivers caring for individuals over 85 years of age has inc
reased across all three of the national surveys of informal caregivers conducted
by National Alliance for Caregiving in the U.S. and AARP, in 1997, 2004, 2009.
Parent care continues to be the primary caregiving situation for mid-life caregi
vers with 70% of the caregivers between the ages of 50 and 64.
[Wagner D. Takagi, E. Health Affairs: Informal Caregiving; By and for Older Adul
ts, February 2010] - Updated: November 2012
A Gallup survey found 72% of caregivers cared for a parent, step-parent, mot
her-in-law, or father-in-law, and 67% of caregivers provided for someone age 75
or older.
[Gallup Healthways Wellbeing Survey, Most Caregivers Look After Elderly Pare
nt; Invest a Lot of Time, July 2011] - Updated: November 2012
A majority of caregivers (86%) care for a relative and more than any other of th
ose relatives (36%) care for a parent and (14%) care for a friend, neighbor or a
nother non-relative. 26% of caregivers care for their mother and 10% care for th
eir father. One in seven caregivers care for their child (14%). One in twelve pr
ovides care to a parent-in-law (8%) or a grandparent or grandparent-in-law (8%).
The typical care recipient is a female 61 years of age.
[The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2009), Caregiving in the U.S: Na
tional Alliance for Caregiving. Washington, D.C.] - Updated: November 2012
CAREGIVERS LIVE IN
Most care recipients live in their own home (58%), and one in five (20%) live in
their caregiver's home.
[National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2009), Caregiving in the U.S., A Foc
used Look at Those Caring for Someone Age 50 or Older, Bethesda, MD: National Al
liance for Caregiving, Washington, D.C.] - Updated: November 2012
Caregivers: Who Do They Live With?
Lives Alone 43% (2009) 47% (2004)
Lives with Spouse 27% (2009) 26% (2004)
Lives with Grown Children 13% (2009) 11% (2004)
Lives with someone else 1% 1%
Most care recipients live in their own home (58%), and one in five (20%) live in
their caregiver's home.
[National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2009), Caregiving in the U.S., A Foc
used Look at Those Caring for Someone Age 50 or Older, Bethesda, MD: National Al
liance for Caregiving, Washington, D.C.] - Updated: November 2012
CAREGIVER PSYCHOTHERAPY RRL
The close relationship between the caregiver and care recipient is a shared rela
tionship with involved emotions, experiences, and memories, which can place a ca
regiver at higher risk for psychological and physical illness.
[Alzheimer's Association, 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, Alzheimer'
s and Dementia , Vol.7, Issue 2.] - Updated: November 2012
Caregivers who care for a loved one with emotional or mental health issues are m
ore likely to have made work accommodations (77% vs. 67% of those caring for som
eone with no emotional or mental health issues.
[The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2009), Caregiving in the U.S: Na
tional Alliance for Caregiving. Washington, D.C.] - Updated: November 2012
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
The lower the income and education, the more likely he or she is to be a caregiv
er. Similarly, those with a high school education or less (20%) take on a caregi
ver role verses (15%) of college graduates and (16%) of postgraduates.
[Gallup Healthways Wellbeing Survey, More Than One in Six American Workers Also
Act as Caregivers, July, 2011] - Updated: November 2012
Months & Years Providing Care
The average duration of a caregiver's role is 4.6 years. Only 3 in 10 caregivers
provided care for less than a year. Similarly, caregivers cared for a loved one
for 1 to 4 years, and 3 in 10 caregivers cared for 5 years or more with 15% rep
orting caring for 10 or more years.
[The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP (2009), Caregiving in the U.S. Na
tional Alliance for Caregiving. Washington, D.C.] - Updated: November 2012
LENGTH OF TIME CARING PERCENTAGE
Less then 6 months 4%
6 months to 1 year 10%
1 year to less than 2 14%
2 to less than 3 years 17%
[Gallup Healthways Wellbeing Survey, Most Caregivers Look After Elderly Parent;
Invest a Lot of Time, July 2011] - Updated: November 2012