Informal Caregiving

Informal or family caregiving to an elderly parent when they are ill or disabled is expected in virtually all cultures of the world and is generally accepted as the "norm" in most developing countries. While the modern nuclear family found in Europe and Northern America is commonly depicted as isolated, without ties to the larger family, gerontological research consistently reveals that the extended family structure continues to function, though often at a distance - with strong relationships maintained between aging persons and their adult children and grandchildren. The family continues to provide most care and supportive services to their older members. The family contribution to health care has been estimated to represent between 70 and 80 per cent of all such care in industrialized countries. Family members provide both short- term assistance (e.g.., following surgery) and long term assistance (e.g., for permanent or extended loss of function such as the loss of sight or terminal cancer). Family members provide direct services (grocery shopping, transportation to doctors), the purchase of services (housecleaning, nursing services) and the management of services (coordinating and overseeing medical/rehabilitative care) as well as emotional and social support. Who becomes the primary caregiver for a frail older person? Usually it is the spouse, followed by an adult child, or other relative such as sibling, niece or nephew or grandchild. In terms of gender, the primary caregiver is most often female.

While it has been observed the world over that it is the women who provide the bulk of family care for elderly, many men (husbands and sons) also provide care. Studies have shown that wives, adult daughter-in-laws and daughters provide most of the personal care and help with the household tasks, transportation and shopping for the elderly and men are more likely to purchase services or provide management services. Women in developed countries sometimes leave the labor force or work part time to care for frail relatives (generally spouses or parents) just at a time when they may want to work for retirement benefits in their own old age. Other women have responsibilities for frail relatives while adjusting to their own retirement, widowhood and reduced incomes. A great deal of research has been conducted on "family caregiving" for impaired older adults, and these studies have found that family caregivers play a major role in keeping an impaired family member at home and avoiding institutionalization. Due to increased longevity, many caregivers are now finding themselves in the position of being a "serial caregiver"—providing support to a parent, then a spouse, and in many cases to a functionally impaired adult child, or to grandchildren. An older adult caregiver may spend several decades in caregiving activities.

Many students in middle school and high school may have parents or grandparents who provide care to an older relative. Sometimes students themselves may be involved in caregiving activities such as grocery shopping or driving a grandparent to an appointment.