Long-Term Caregiving Takes a High Toll on Family, Work Life

By Michael Reinemer, The National Council on the Aging

Women Take on Greater Responsibility

Washington, D.C., February 11, 1997

More than half of Americans have friends or relatives who have needed long-term care, and nearly 30 percent have provided hands-on or personal care assistance, according to a survey of 1,000 adults released today by the National Council on the Aging (NCOA).

The caregiving takes a heavy toll on work and family life. Among those who have provided hands-on care, 67 percent reported that it has had a significant impact on their family lives, and 41 percent reported that it had a significant impact on their work. More than 10 percent of those who have provided long-term care assistance said they had given up promotions or jobs as a result.

"It is a difficult tightrope to walk for those who need to provide long-term care assistance," said Donna Wagner, senior Vice president, NCOA. "Individuals are finding it tough to meet their personal needs and long-term care obligations and must continually make hard choices."

The impact, however, has a greater affect on women than men. Overall, women in the survey were more likely to have provided hands-on long-term care than men (58 percent of women, 48 percent of men) and were more likely to report hardships resulting from the caregiving. Almost half of the female caregivers, 48 percent, reported a "significant impact" on their work, compared to 32 percent of male caregivers.

Both men and women said providing care affected their family lives, but more women cited this effect, 73 percent compared to 60 percent. And more than twice as many women than men said providing long-term care assistance had a significant impact on their own health, 40 percent compared to 18 percent.

Women were also more likely to worry about long-term care than men but said they have done less planning for it. Fifty-six percent of female respondents described long-term care as a "very big problem" compared to 42 percent of male respondents.

"Since women, in general, live an average of seven years longer than men, they are more likely to need long-term care at some point, Getting this care can be especially difficult for the fifty percent of women over 75 who like alone. Historically, women have also been less likely to have the same level of financial resources. However, planning for long-term care and learning more about the care and financing options can help to increase confidence about dealing with the situation, and reduce the worry associated with it."

The long-term care survey of 1,000 telephone interviews was implemented by Mathew Greenwald & Associates. Respondents were screened to be 21 years of age or older and the interviews were divided evenly among men and women.

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