Caregiving Population Data

For data sources, see

Demographics

  • The value of the services family caregivers provide for "free," when caring for older adults, is estimated to be$375 billiona year. That is almosttwice as muchas is actually spent on homecare and nursing home services combined ($158 billion).
  • More than65 million people, 29% of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year and spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for their loved one.
  • The typical family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman caring for her widowed 69-year-old mother who does not live with her. She is married and employed. Approximately66%of family caregivers are women. More than 37% have children or grandchildren under 18 years old living with them.
  • 20 hours per weekis the average number of hours family caregivers spend caring for their loved ones while13%of family caregivers are providing 40 hours of care a week or more.
  • Family caregivers are thefoundation of long-term carenationwide, exceeding Medicaid long-term care spending in all states.
  • 51%of care recipients live in their own home, 29% live with their family caregiver, and 4% live in nursing homes and assisted living.
  • 36% of family caregivers care for a parent and7 out of 10caregivers are caring for loved ones over 50 years old.
  • 14%of family caregivers care for a special needs child with an estimated16.8 million caring for special needs childrenunder 18 years old. 55% of these caregivers are caring for their own children.
  • 78%of adults living in the community and in need of long-term care depend on family and friends as their only source of help.

Economics of Caregiving

  • Women who are family caregivers are2.5 timesmore likely than non-caregivers to live in poverty andfive timesmore likely to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
  • Caregiving families (families in which one member has a disability) havemedian incomes that are more than 15% lowerthan non-caregiving families. In every state and DC the poverty rate is higher among families with members with a disability than among families without.
  • During the2009 economic downturn, 1 in 5 family caregivers had to move into the same home with their loved ones to cut expenses.
  • 47%of working caregivers indicate an increase in caregiving expenses has caused them touse up ALL or MOST of their savings.
  • The average family caregiver for someone 50 years or older spends$5,531 per yearon out of pocket caregiving expenses in 2007 which was more than 10% of the median income for a family caregiver that year.

Impact on Family Caregiver's Health

  • 23%of family caregivers caring for loved ones for 5 years or morereport their health is fair or poor.
  • Stress of family caregiving for persons with dementia has been shown to impact a person's immune system forup to three yearsafter their caregiving ends thus increasing their chances of developing a chronic illness themselves.
  • Nearly three quarters (72%) of family caregivers report not going to the doctor as often as they should and 55% say they skip doctor appointments for themselves.63% of caregivers report having poor eating habitsthan non-caregivers and 58% indicate worse exercise habits than before caregiving responsibilities.
  • 20% of employed female caregiversover 50 years old report symptoms of depression compared to 8% of their non-caregiving peers.
  • 40% to 70%of family caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression with approximatelya quarter to halfof these caregivers meet the diagnostic criteria for major depression.
  • More than 1 in 10 (11%) of family caregivers report that caregiving has caused their physical health to deteriorate.
  • A wife's hospitalization increased her husband'schances of dyingwithin a month by 35%. A husband's hospitalization boosted his wife'smortality risk by 44%.
  • Family caregivers experiencing extreme stress have been shown to age prematurely. This level of stress can take as much as10 years off a family caregiver's life.

Caregiving and Work

  • Six in 10family caregivers are employed.
  • 73%of family caregivers who care for someone over the age of 18 either work or have worked while providing care;66%have had to make some adjustments to their work life, from reporting late to work to giving up work entirely; and 1 in 5 family caregivers have had to take a leave of absence.
  • 64%of working parents caring for a special needs child believe that caregiving responsibility has negatively impacted their work performance.
  • American businesses can lose as much as $34 billioneach year due to employees' need to care for loved ones 50 years of age and older.
  • Caregivers caring for elderly loved ones cost employers 8% more in health care costs estimated to be worth$13.4 billion per year.
  • Over65% of employersbelieve that health benefits improve employees' health. Sixty percent (60%) believe it increases moral and 39% believe it increases productivity.

Caregiving and Health Care

  • Up to 70% of family caregivers manage medications for their loved ones.
  • 22%of family caregivers say they need help communicating with physicians.
  • Focus group research suggests that family caregivers do not recognize thatpublic policyhas a direct impact on their day-to-day lives. Many are uncomfortable even thinking there might be a connection.

Caregiver Self-Awareness

  • Over 90%of family caregivers become more proactive about seeking resources and skills they need to assist their care recipient after they have self-identified.
  • 83%of self-identified family caregivers believe their self-awareness led to increased confidence when talking to healthcare professionals about their loved one's care.
  • Forover 75%of family caregivers, it was the act of helping their loved one with personal care that contributed to their self-identification.
  • For60%of family caregivers, their loved one's diagnosis and their interaction with the health care system made them aware that they were family caregivers.