Caregiving
Caregiving in the U.S.
Research Report
Belden Russonello & Stewart
April 2004
People who care for adult family members or friends fulfill an important role not only for the people they assist, but for society as a whole. While this care is unpaid, its value has been estimated at 257 billion dollars annually.
Caregiving is primarily a family issue – often an intergenerational family issue – and most care recipients are older family members. Although caregivers make many contributions, being one may take a personal toll since the demands on their time can range from a few hours a week to 40 or more hours per week, essentially constant care.
The purpose of this study – a joint project of the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP and funded by MetLife Foundation – is to update and expand knowledge about the activities caregivers say they perform, the perceived impact of caregiving on their daily lives, and the unmet needs of this population. Its findings are based on a national telephone survey of 1,247 caregivers age 18 or older, including approximately 200 African-American, 200 Hispanic, and 200 Asian-American caregivers. Interviewing was conducted from September 5 through December 22, 2003.
Download Reports
- Executive Summary (PDF, 44 pages)
- Caregiving in the U.S. full report (PDF, 138 pages)
- Spotlight on California (PDF, 25 pages)
- Spotlight on Delaware (PDF, 25 pages)
- Spotlight on Illinois (PDF, 25 pages)
- Spotlight on Kansas (PDF, 25 pages)
- Spotlight on Ohio (PDF, 25 pages)
- Spotlight on Virginia (PDF, 25 pages)
- Spotlight on Washington (PDF, 25 pages)