Caring for loved ones a part-time job for many
Caring for an elderly or disabled loved one is a part-time job for one in three adults.
According to National Public Radio, the average family caregiver puts in 19 hours a week doing tasks such as bathing and dressing an older or disabled relative, housekeeping and more.
The survey, Caregiving in the U.S. 2009, found that the average age of a family caregiver is 48. Two-thirds of caregivers are women, and 36 percent of the time, they’re caring for a parent. On average, they have been providing care for 4.6 years. The survey, which is updated every five years, is sponsored by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving and receives funding from the MetLife Foundation.
To make time for these added responsibilities, survey respondents said they had:
- Taken a leave of absence (20 percent);
- Reduced work hours or taken a less demanding job (12 percent);
- Turned down a promotion (6 percent);
- Lost job benefits (6 percent);
- Taken early retirement (3 percent); or
- Given up work entirely (9 percent) to care for a loved one.
Most respondents didn’t consider caregiving a hardship, but the longer they had been providing care, the more likely they were to report their own health as fair or poor. More than half said their caregiving responsibilities took time away from their friends and other family. Read more at NPR.org.
More resources:
The University of Wisconsin-Extension Family Caregiving Program offers several classes for caregivers, a listing of resources, and detailed reports on caregivers in each Wisconsin county.
The Family Caregiver Alliance web site provides a wealth of information and a state-by-state Family Care Navigator.
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