Lifetime family caregiving for older U.S. adults by men and women, 2011 and 2023.

Abstract

Objectives: Prior research finds that women spend more years than men caring for older relatives and friends ("lifetime family caregiving") in the United States. This study examines whether these amounts have changed in recent years (2023 vs. 2011) and how recent estimates differ for men and women by relationship to the care recipient and type of care provided.

Methods: We update and expand previously published estimates, drawing upon the National Study of Caregiving (n=1,972 in 2011; n=6,500 in 2021-2023) and the Current Population Survey. We use a demographic technique to calculate years of remaining life men and women ages 20+ would provide family caregiving to an older adult if current age-specific rates held.

Results: In 2023, lifetime family caregiving for an older adult was nearly three years longer for women relative to men: 7.1 (95%CI: 6.2,8.0) vs. 4.2 (95%CI: 3.7,4.7) (p<.001). For women, estimates for lifetime family caregiving were a year higher in 2023 than in 2011 (p=.03); for men, estimates were nearly identical in both years. In 2023, lifetime family caregiving for an older spouse or partner was similar for women and men but was higher for women than for men for caring for a parent, grandparent, and other relationship and for personal, household, transportation, and medical tasks.

Discussion: Our results indicate lifetime family caregiving has increased for women. Gaps in lifetime family caregiving for men and women may grow further as late-life care needs increase and the percentage of older adults without close kin continues to rise.