What Does Caregiving Look Like in the United States?

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More than 59 million Americans provide care for an adult with a complex medical condition or disability.

When it comes to Latinos, 17% of caregivers in the U.S. are Latino.

A recently published report from the Pew Research Center found that lower-income adults with an aging parent, spouse, or partner are more likely to be caregivers than those in higher income tiers.

“What we found is that the caregiving burden increases as aging family members get to be 75 and older. And, among Americans with an aging parent, spouse or partner, those with lower incomes are much more likely to be caregivers than those with middle and upper incomes,” according to the Pew Research Center.

Let’s dig deeper into this study’s key takeaways that can impact families.

10% of All U.S. Adults Say They Are a Caregiver for a Parent

Pew Research found that 10% of all U.S. adults say they are a caregiver for a parent age 65 or older.

Additionally, another 3% are caregivers for a spouse or partner age 65 or older less than 1% say they care for an aging parent and an aging spouse or partner.

“The shares of Americans who see themselves as caregivers rise to 24% among those with a parent age 65 or older and 25% among those with an aging spouse or partner,” according to the Pew Research Center.

Who Are More Likely to Be Caregivers?

28% of women who have an aging parent, spouse, or partner consider themselves caregivers, compared to 23% of men.

When considering income, 39% of lower-income adults with an aging parent, spouse or partner are caregivers.

In comparison, 23% of middle-income adults and 16% of upper-income adults are caregivers.

“In addition, adults with a parent age 75 or older are more likely than those with a parent age 65 to 74 to be caregivers (31% vs. 16%),” Pew Research reports.

In addition, 32% of those with a spouse or partner age 75 or older are caregivers, compared with 21% of those with a spouse or partner age 65 to 74.

Responsibilities and Impact of Caregiving

68% of adults who are caregivers for an aging parent and 66% of adults that care for an aging spouse or partner say they help that person with at least one of the following tasks on a regular basis:

• Errands, housework or home repairs
• Managing their health care, such as medical appointments and medication
• Managing their finances, such as budgeting or paying bills on time
• Personal care, such as bathing or dressing

The impact of caregiving differs from person to person, whether they’re caregiving for a parent or spouse.

“Adults who are caring for an aging parent and regularly helping them with at least one of the tasks we asked about tend to report that this has had a more positive than negative impact on their relationship with their parent,” according to the Pew Research Center.

In addition, those caring for an aging spouse or partner and regularly helping them with daily tasks say that caring for their partner had a more positive than negative impact on their relationship with their spouse or partner.

Caregivers did say caregiving can have a more negative than positive impact on:

• Their emotional well-being
• Their physical health
• Their job or career (among those who have one)
• Their financial situation
• Their social life

In addition, Latino caregivers often report higher levels of depression, according to a study.

The full Pew Research Center Report can be accessed here.

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Clinical trials are studies that help researchers learn more to help slow, manage, and treat Alzheimer’s and cancer for current and future family members. But without volunteers for clinical trials, the benefits may miss this group.

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