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The faces of paid caregivers encompass a diverse group of individuals, including home health aides, personal care attendants, and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). These professionals offer critical support to elderly individuals, people with dementia, and those living with disabilities. Paid caregivers play a vital role in both home and community settings, helping people maintain their independence and quality of life. However, they often face challenges, including limited financial support, the stress of caregiving duties, and gaps in caregiving resources​

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Home health aides, personal care attendants, and other paid caregivers can augment support from family caregivers to help people with dementia live safely at home and in the community. But a recent NIA-funded study showed that only one in four community‐dwelling individuals with dementia received paid care, underscoring the need to make it more accessible.

The growing movement to care for people with dementia outside of the nursing home setting means more hands-on care delivered in the community. Researchers used data from the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), an NIA-funded nationally representative study of Medicare recipients 65 years and older, to identify 899 community-dwelling individuals with dementia, characterize paid caregiving among this group, and identify factors associated with receiving paid care. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Researchers found that only a quarter of people with dementia and about half of those with advanced dementia living in the community received paid care. Even with paid care, family caregivers provided more than half of reported care hours. Men, the unmarried, those with Medicaid, and those requiring more help with daily activities had the highest likelihood of receiving paid care. People in the middle-income range were less likely to receive paid care.

The results highlight that receiving paid care is not only associated with functional need but also financial resources and Medicaid. The authors noted that lower rates of paid caregiving among middle‐income individuals suggest that the middle class may face unique challenges, as they do not qualify for Medicaid‐funded home care or have the means to pay significant caregiving costs out of pocket.

The authors noted some limitations of their analysis. For example, paid care may also be associated with factors that were not assessed, like caregiver characteristics and behavioral symptoms associated with dementia.

Overall, the study highlights the need for new ways of making paid caregiving more accessible throughout the income spectrum to support family caregivers and respect the preferences of people with dementia to remain living in the community. Future research may examine the range of paid and family caregiving arrangements and how they change over time to meet the basic needs of individuals with dementia, as well as additional factors that may impact paid care, like the fear of loss of independence or introducing unfamiliar caregivers and the expectation that care come from family alone.
This research was supported by NIA grants R03AG060092, P30AG028741, and R01AG060967.
These activities relate to NIA's AD+ADRD Research Implementation Milestone 13.D, "Support secondary analysis of data from population based and intervention studies with appropriate content related to informal and formal caregiving. "

Reference: Reckrey JM, et al. Living in the Community With Dementia: Who Receives Paid Care? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2020 Jan;68(1):186-191. Epub 2019 Nov 6. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16215.

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Study highlights paid caregiving gaps and needs for community-dwelling adults with dementia

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Home health aides, personal care attendants, and other paid caregivers can augment support from family caregivers to help people with dementia live safely at home and in the community. But a recent NIA-funded study showed that only one in four community‐dwelling individuals with dementia received paid care, underscoring the need to make it more accessible.

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As a caregiver for a loved one, you likely know the majority of caregiving doesn't come with a paycheck. If new to caregiving or considering making a change in your current arrangements, you need to think about the differences between paid and unpaid caregiving.

Below is a consideration of both paid and unpaid caregiving, along with the benefits and drawbacks of each to help you decide.

Paid Caregiving: Benefits

1. Getting Paid for the Work

One of the largest considerations falls on the issue of financial compensation. Many family members provide caregiving while working. But many also either move to part-time work or drop out of the workforce to provide care. This can lower income and result in financial challenges. More than 30 percent of caregivers have financial difficulties related to unpaid care.

Paid caregiving can relieve some of the financial burdens for people who have had to reduce or end their participation in the workforce.

2. Creating Visibility

When loved ones need care, family members often step up to the plate and begin to provide it. Because this is an extension of family care and love, other family members and friends may tend to overlook the contributions, or not realize how much time and planning it takes.

Becoming a paid caregiver makes the role more visible and clear. The caregiver is not only helping an aged parent out occasionally but actively helping to maintain their health as much as possible. It can benefit families to realize how much time and effort a caregiver puts in when assessing how family members should share caregiving duties.

Paid Caregiving: Drawbacks

1. Low Pay

While it's possible for a family member or friend to receive pay for caregiving, the pay can be on the low side. It may not equal what a caregiver has given up in the workforce, or the pay may not match the time caregivers actually need to spend on caregiving.

The people concerned may need to do a cost-benefit analysis regarding who is available to do the caretaking, whether it can be shared and who is the right person to do it. If it makes more sense for someone to stay in the workforce and earn an income, sharing care may be the best solution.

2. Tracking Down Payment Options

There is no single payment option for caregivers - many exist. While that can be good news, caregivers, other family members and friends need to realize that researching and finding payment options is time-consuming at first.

The search can be frustrating, partly because there is no consistency across the country. States, counties and even municipalities can offer programs to pay caregivers, but caregivers must research to find these. Once found, these can be highly beneficial, but legwork is required initially to find them.

In some states, Medicaid offers payment options in exchange for the caregiver taking classes and becoming certified in things like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In others, they are offered through the state Department of Aging of through disability programs. If the person needing care is a veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers some programs. Some insurance policies have provisions for long-term care payment.

Unpaid Caregiving: Benefits

1. Freedom of Choice

Unpaid caregiving is free of any requirement to certify or take courses. In government programs, the government specifies what the caregiver has to learn and may also specify other regulations and restrictions in exchange for the payment.

Unpaid caregivers may make any arrangements they wish in giving care. They have freedom of choice in making the arrangements, sharing the caregiving and so on.

2. More Flexible Options

If caregivers have an extended family in the same geographical area, it may make sense to share caretaking activities. If one person becomes certified or entitled to be a paid caregiver, for example, it may actually result in a limited menu of options, because only that person can provide care.

Caregiving is a stressful job, and caregivers need to practice self-care as well. One option to provide self-care is to rely on volunteers or paid help once in a while, to give the caregivers a respite. This may become more complicated if the primary caregiver receives pay.

Unpaid Caregiving: Drawbacks

1. Financial Constraints

Unpaid caregivers often suffer financially both in the short and long term. Short term, if they have dropped out of the workforce or moved to part-time work, they may earn less. Earnings affect long-term considerations, such as Social Security contributions and potential private retirement contributions. Caregivers may inadvertently hurt their own retirement security.

Caregivers need to remain cautious not to withdraw any existing retirement savings or otherwise harm their long-term financial security to support their loved one who needs care.

2. Invisibility

In our society, paid work is more visible than unpaid work. People who take on unpaid care - especially women, on whom emotional caregiving often disproportionately falls - can be taken for granted. Other family members and friends may not grasp how time-consuming the care is, or how stressful it can be.

One solution is to have open meetings with other people concerned with the care. The loved one's issues, needs and financial situation need transparent discussion.

The decision about whether to be a paid or unpaid caregiver is a complicated one. People in the situation need to consider these issues carefully.

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Paid Caregiving vs. Unpaid Caregiving: What You Should Know

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As a caregiver for a loved one, you likely know the majority of caregiving doesn't come with a paycheck. If new to caregiving or considering making a change in your current arrangements, you need to think about the differences between paid and unpaid caregiving.

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Paid caregiving offers numerous personal benefits, motivating individuals to work in this field. Many caregivers report emotional satisfaction from helping others, fostering deep relationships with care recipients, and contributing to their well-being. The personal fulfillment from making a positive impact on someone’s life, especially in difficult times, is a significant reward for many caregivers.

Financial stability is another benefit, as caregiving roles provide income, especially for those who choose caregiving as a full-time profession. The flexibility in working hours, particularly for independent caregivers, allows them to manage their schedules, which can be advantageous for those balancing caregiving with other personal responsibilities​

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***Please note: In order to get started with the CDPAP program you must use a Fiscal Intermediary. FreedomCare is the #1 Fiscal Intermediary in the NY area. To see if you are eligible to get started with FreedomCare click here.

Are you working as a caregiver and not getting paid?

This is quite common among family members who take care of elderly or disabled relatives.

In this article we are going to show you 5 ways you can get paid to take care of a family member.

‍5 Ways to Get Paid to Take Care of a Family Member

When a spouse (24% of all family caregivers), or an adult child (60%) quit their job in order to devote themselves to the care of a disabled family member, many make often-ignored financial sacrifices beyond lost wages (e.g. pensions or 401k's, social security benefits, etc.)

Here are 5 programs that will help with your finances as you take care of your family member.

1- Medicaid-Funded Programs (Including CDPAP)

CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program) is a Medicaid-funded program that allows care recipients to hire almost any caregiver they choose, including the family member who is currently providing the care.

A sister program is CDPAS - Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services. This decides on the type of services you need, for example, assistance with companionship and/or activities of daily living. As far as you are concerned, the two programs are in essence the same.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you reap some benefits from that program:

To be eligible, your loved one must already be in the Medicaid program, need home care, and either be in charge of their own affairs or have a designated representative, i.e. someone with a power of attorney, advance health directive, or be otherwise empowered to make decisions on the patient's behalf regarding how their home care services are provided.

The care recipient tell his or her plan about the request for CDPAP services and have a doctor sign off that he or she needs home care. And their caregiver (family or friend) must provide evidence that they are legal to work in the U.S. and get a physical and bloodwork done showing that they are healthy enough to care for a patient.

When successful, your loved one will be allotted a certain number of hours per week, depending on their overall physical disability and mental health conditions.

You, the caregiver, will receive a paycheck based on an hourly pay rate for each hour worked servicing the patient.

This program is not very complicated, and for the forms, as well as more detailed information, you can visit the program here.

‍To recap, many states have programs that pay family or a friend to serve as a caregiver, although searching for them and then helping them get qualified can be daunting.

You can find out more about your state's relevant programs by contacting:

Medicaid (or Cash and Counselling Programs):

Medicaid (or Cash and Counselling Programs): Medicaid offers a variety of programs that aim at assisting with long-term in-home or in-community care, meal deliveries, and day care centers so that care recipients may get home-based rather than institutional help. To get you started with your research, contact the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or go to a good starting point for Medicaid Home Attendant Services.

To get you started with your research, contact the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or go to a good starting point for Medicaid Home Attendant Services. ‍
National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services

This national program caters for people with disabilities (including the aging population) with objectives that are similar to the above-described Medicaid-type programs.

Here is a link to that National Resource Center.

Also referred to as a personal care agreement, or elder care contract, a caregiver contract is a formal agreement, usually among family members, to provide that the person providing care to a loved one be compensated, particularly if he or she has to let go of a job so as to care for the elderly parent or relative.
Here are some of the benefits of drawing up such a contractual document:

Shedding clarity over caregiving functions: The care recipient may be a person of means, perhaps from a lifetime of productive work, or from other sources. Instead of family members arguing over expenditures that could affect what they might ultimately inherit, or receive as gifts, this type of contract does not leave any ambiguity when it comes to compensating the family caregiver.

Families pooling resources: Family members may also, on occasion, wish to pool resources to pay for one member of the family to devote themselves to the care of a loved one. This type of contract delineates the terms and tasks to be performed, once again shedding clarity on an issue that may otherwise pit one family member against another.

Relationships with outside payers: There are also times when the care recipient would be reimbursed for long-term care expenditures by an outside entity such as a long-term care insurance company, worker's compensation, the Veterans Administration (VA), or some Medicaid program. In all of those cases, a caregiver contract would pave the way for the family caregiver to be formally recognized and compensated.

It is recommended that you let an elder law attorney help you draft such a contract. You can find the attorney that best meets your requirements at the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

3- Veterans Benefits (VD-HCBS), or Cash and Counseling

Post-9/11 program: The VA offers its eligible vets a variety of supportive health and financial programs.

The program of interest in this context is called the Veteran Directed Home and Community-Based Services (VD-HCBS) that specifically pays family members to act as caregivers for a home-based loved one.

Also referred to as "Cash and Counseling for Veterans," the program has other names as well, such as "Veterans Independence Plus Program," and "Veterans Directed Home Services (VDHS)."

The program allows vets to choose their own care providers instead of receiving the care at VA facilities.
Here is how it works:

Eligible care recipients must receive the care in their homes, in their caregiver's home, or in independent living communities of the type that do not offer care support (i.e. assistance with activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing and walking).

Eligibility under this law that passed in 2010 is limited to veterans who were injured in a military conflict after September 11, 2001.

Together with a VA advisor, the vet must develop a comprehensive "Care Plan" with budgets, care tasks needed, and details about the family caregiver.

The Care Plan may then need several modifications before it is ultimately approved.

The vet can then hire a caregiver and obtain other supplies like wheelchairs, special beds, oxygen supplies, etc.

Finally, the administering agency, which differs in each state, sets up check or other forms of payments for all pre-approved services and supplies, including home care.

Other benefits also apply, including traveling expenses, mental health services (greatly in demand by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder -PTSD- and other mental health patients), and respite care for 30 days per year (to give the primary family caregiver time off).

For more information, call 1-877-222-VETS (ext. 8387).

4- Long-Term Care Insurance

If your loved one, in the past, had the foresight to purchase a long-term care insurance policy of the type that pays for home care (as is the case with the vast majority of these policies), then you have a great opportunity to get paid, as follows:

If the policy requires the in-home care to be performed by a licensed home care agency, then you and your family member can contact your nearest home care agency. They will welcome you both with open arms, your loved one as their latest client, paid by the insurer, and you as their latest caregiver, paid by the agency. This arrangement is ideal for the home care agency since it adds to their revenues without any additional staffing effort.

If the policy is not limited to licensed home care agencies, then a caregiver contract would serve you well. You would still need to negotiate with the insurance carrier, based on your caregiver contract. If you don't have such a contract, then develop one, stipulating that you as the caregiver would be paid as much as a home care agency non-certified nursing assistant is paid.

By the way, using a home care agency is something to contemplate in all cases where your loved one is being reimbursed for long-term care expenditures. For example, the Worker's Compensation (or a court) may be reimbursing for a work-related injury that your loved one may have sustained.

5- Indirect Payment Via a Tax Credit

Not only are you perhaps not being paid to take care of your family member, but you may also be using your personal savings for expenditures relating to your loved one's home modifications, transportation, food, assistive devices, medical supplies, and more.

According to the AARP (membership association for people 50+ years of age - it has tens of millions members), family caregivers spent $7,000 in 2016, on average, for their loved one's needs apart from the actual caregiving.

The IRS Tax Credit: the IRS's Credit for Caring Act gives eligible family caregivers the opportunity to obtain a tax credit equal to 30% of expenditures outlaid on behalf of their loved one in excess of $2,000 a year, up to a maximum credit of $3,000 a year.
Here are the IRS's eligibility requirements:

You need to be a direct relative of the care recipient (parent, adult child, spouse and others who qualify per the "dependent" definition)

You need to assist a person of any age with physical or mental functional disabilities

You need to have adequately documented the expenses

And you need to have earned taxable income of at least $7,500 for the year in which you claim a tax credit

For more information on tax credits, here is a link to the AARP.
Final Thoughts On Getting Compensated for Taking Care of Your Loved One

The statistic that struck us from the opening "background" section was the fact that the vast majority of family caregivers care for persons with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia. Anyone who knows anything about caring for a family member with dementia knows only too well how overwhelming and totally immersing that cahttps://www.freedomcareny.com/posts/taking-care-of-your-parent-with-alzheimersn be.

As a family caregiver, irrespective of what your loved one suffers from, you take on enormous open-ended responsibilities that are stressful, often financially devastating, and always disruptive when it comes to your own personal growth and well-being.

The least that you can do is look for ways to at least get compensated for a portion of the time, effort and expenses you lay out on behalf of your loved one.

We therefore sincerely hope that some of the venues we described in this article prove appropriate for your circumstances and useful to you receiving compensation for what you do.

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5 ways you can get paid as a family caregiver - Freedom Care

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Please note: In order to get started with the CDPAP program you must use a Fiscal Intermediary. FreedomCare is the #1 Fiscal Intermediary in the NY area. To see if you are eligible to get started with FreedomCare click here. Are you working as a caregiver and not getting paid?

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Page Reviewed / Updated - September 22, 2020

Introduction & Definitions

Once a family has made the decision to hire a caregiver for their elderly loved one, they are faced with the question of whether to hire an independent caregiver or to use a home care agency. This article will explore the pros and cons of both approaches with the goal of helping families make the right decision for them and their situation. First, however, it is helpful to have a clear understanding of the differences between an independent caregiver and a caregiver who is hired through a home care agency.

Home care agencies are licensed businesses that employ caregivers and send them to the home of your loved one to provide in-home care. They can provide medical care or non-medical care. Professionals, such as nurses or nursing assistants, provide medical care. Non-medical care, also called personal care or custodial care, consists of assistance with the activities of daily living, such as preparing meals, eating, and bathing, and can be provided by persons without professional training.

Independent or private caregivers are employed directly by the family. There is no intermediary agency between the care recipient and the caregiver. Independent caregivers are also able to provide medical care (if trained to do so), but this is much less common. Independent caregivers are more likely to provide personal care. Families who hire independent caregivers must take on the responsibilities of being an employer or use a 3rd party payroll management service. But, by taking on this employer role, rather than going through an intermediary agency, they can save 20% - 30% on home care costs.

As mentioned before, home care agencies are more expensive than independent caregivers. Nationally, the average hourly rate for home care through a home care agency in 2019 is $21 per hour. Independent caregivers are paid 20% - 30% less than home care agencies; they receive $15 - $17 per hour. There are significant state and regional differences in the hourly cost of home care. However, the difference between home care agency costs and independent caregivers' costs remains relatively consistent throughout the 50 states.

A 20% - 30% savings in the hourly cost may sound like a significant difference, but there are factors that must be considered in order to gain a more accurate estimate. Most relevantly, is the hidden cost of being an employer, which one must be to legally hire an independent caregiver. The hidden cost may be thought of as additional hours the family must put forth in the hiring, managing, and making of payments to the independent caregiver. There are services that manage caregiver payroll. They greatly simplify the complicated process of deducting Social Security and other taxes. But a family still must hire and manage the independent caregiver.

Types of Care

The types of care and support services that can be provided in the home is very broad, ranging from medical care, like injections, wound care, and monitoring vital signs, to simple assistance with the activities of daily living, like eating, and helping with bathing, dressing and grooming. Non-medical caregivers can also provide assistance with the instrumental activities of daily living, such as shopping, housework, and running errands.

Both home care agencies and independent caregivers can provide either home health care or non-medical care. However, if it is home medical care that a family is seeking, there is a much greater challenge in finding an independent caregiver who is professionally training and licensed. As a result of the added difficulties associated with medical care (and the added liabilities), most families tend to use home care agencies for this purpose.

Independent caregivers have the advantage when it comes to providing a wider range of non-medical care services. Home care agencies tend to have stricter rules about what a caregiver can and cannot do. While independent caregivers are not subject to the same restrictions. As an example, an independent caregiver could drive the care recipient around for appointments, errands, and social activities. But a home care agency might prohibit their caregivers from doing so. This also means that an independent caregiver may be better suited for providing companion care. Or, in other words, simply serving as a friend to an isolated elderly person living at home alone. They can change light bulbs, go grocery shopping, or take the care recipient to a movie. In fact, the flexibility of support that an independent caregiver can provide is often the very reason families will choose to work with an independent caregiver rather than a home care agency.

Quality of Care

One might assume that due to the additional licensing requirements to which home care agencies must adhere that caregivers via home care agencies provide a higher quality of care. However, the authors believe that the quality of care provided is dependent on the individual providing care. There will be independent caregivers, as well as caregivers from home care agencies, that provide excellent care. And there will be individuals from both options who provide less attentive care.

A difference between these two options that is worth mentioning is that when a family working with a home care agency decides they are unhappy with the quality of care they are receiving, they can simply request a different caregiver from the same home care agency. In contrast, families who have hired an independent caregiver and are unhappy with the quality of care must go through the process of searching for, hiring, and training a new independent caregiver.

Ease of Hiring

The ease of hiring the caregiver is one of the bigger differences when working with a home care agency vs. an independent caregiver. When looking for a home care agency, it is a very simple process. There are many free matching services available, including one offered by our organization. Finding an independent caregiver, on the other hand, can be a challenge. It is analogous to hiring an employee. One must write up a job description and post that description in various locations. Alternatively, one can ask family or friends or search through pages of Craigslist and other local postings. The family and the care recipient will want to meet with the caregiver to "interview" them, and many interviews may be required. Earlier in this article we mentioned flexibility as one of the main reasons families hire independent caregivers. However, the difficulty in finding independent caregivers is one of the main reasons families opt for home care agencies instead.

It should be mentioned that over the past few years several web-based, startup organizations have tried to make the process of hiring independent caregivers much easier. Unfortunately, there is also a long list of failed organizations that have tried to solve this problem. If and when our organization discovers a business that has solved the challenge of finding an independent caregiver, this article will be updated with that information.

Legality, Taxes & Deductions

There is a false perception that hiring an independent caregiver is somehow illegal. This is not the case. However, paying an independent caregiver under the table is illegal. Also, it's important to note, paying the caregiver under the table is not in the family's best interest because it is highly likely that by doing so, the family is missing out on some tax benefits.

Families used to have the option of hiring the caregiver as an independent contractor (and therefore, the family would not be responsible for payroll taxes, withholdings, etc.). However, this is no longer an option for families, as the IRS has recently ruled that caregivers must be classified as employees, not independent contractors.

One reason families may choose to pay a caregiver under the table is because they perceive the process of managing employee payroll and withholdings to be complicated and time-consuming. While it is true that payroll logistics are confusing, the reality is there are inexpensive options that manage the entire process on the family's behalf. Furthermore, these third-party services educate the family in regards to how and when payments to their caregivers are tax deductible. Free consultations are available to explain the processes of hiring and managing payroll for independent caregivers. More.

The Medicare Factor?

No article about home care would be complete without some mention of Medicare as a source of payment. Neither independent caregivers nor home care agencies have an advantage with Medicare. To be clear, Medicare does not pay for non-medical home care regardless of if an independent caregiver or a home care agency is used. Thus, Medicare should not be a factor in anyone's home care agency vs. independent caregiver decision. That said, some Medicare Advantage plans, which offer an alternative way to receive Medicare benefits, may now cover the cost of non-medical home care in specific cases.

With Home Health Care, Medicare will pay (in some cases when it is medically necessary), but Medicare will pay either a home care agency or an independent caregiver.

Pros & Cons Table

Pros and Cons of Home Care Agencies and Independent Caregivers

Independent Caregivers

-Less expensive -Can provide a broader range of support services -Families can be more selective about the caregivers

-Families must perform own caregiver background checks -Caregivers, usually, don't have professional liability insurance -No backup caregivers for sick days -Can be challenging to locate, hire and train -Families must manage payroll & withholdings ( see details)

Home Care Agencies

-Perform caregiver background checks -Have professional liability insurance -Offer backup caregivers when primary caregiver cannot work -Easy to locate and hire a home care agency -Agency manages payroll

-More expensive -Typically, provide limited range of support services -Caregivers limited to those the home care agency has on staff

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Home Care Agencies vs. Independent Caregivers | Pros & Cons

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Guide to the pros and cons of hiring an independent caregiver or a home care agency for your aging loved one.

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This is a recent article about Tara Driver and her story highlights the financial challenges unpaid caregivers face, especially in the absence of paid family leave. Many U.S. states are implementing paid caregiving policies, but these still only cover a portion of the workforce. Headlines often discuss the caregiver shortages across the country and the growing number of states, such as Minnesota and Maine, that have recently introduced paid family leave laws. These policies aim to provide financial relief and job protection for caregivers, helping them balance their responsibilities without sacrificing their income.

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The High-Wire Act of Caregiving and Saving for Retirement

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More states are establishing paid leave programs that could help caregivers protect their nest eggs.

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This is another article I found about Paid care giving it essentially says as more people opt to age in place, the demand for caregiving is growing. Family members often provide care, which can include tasks like transportation, meal preparation, and medication management. While caregiving can be fulfilling, it is emotionally and physically demanding. Various programs, such as Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, long-term care insurance, and tax credits, offer financial support for caregivers. However, caregivers must consider the potential impact on their health, finances, and social security benefits before taking on the role.

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How To Become A Paid Caregiver For A Family Member

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How To Become A Paid Caregiver For A Family Member

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Many caregivers experience burnout from the demands of constant care. They often work long hours and form emotional bonds with the patients, leading to feelings of guilt, frustration, and isolation when they cannot meet all needs or witness a patient's decline. Depression, anxiety, and feelings of being overwhelmed are common as they navigate complex care situations

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Definitions

A caregiver-sometimes called an informal caregiver-is an unpaid individual (for example, a spouse, partner, family member, friend, or neighbor) involved in assisting others with activities of daily living and/or medical tasks. Formal caregivers are paid care providers providing care in one's home or in a care setting (day care, residential facility, long-term care facility). For the purposes of the present fact sheet, displayed statistics generally refer to caregivers of adults.

The figures below reflect variations in the definitions and criteria used in each cited source. For example, the age of care recipients or relationship of caregiver to care recipient may differ from study to study.

How Many Caregivers in the U.S.?

Approximately 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

About 34.2 million Americans have provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in the last 12 months. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

The majority of caregivers (82%) care for one other adult, while 15% care for 2 adults, and 3% for 3 or more adults. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Approximately 39.8 million caregivers provide care to adults (aged 18+) with a disability or illness or 16.6% of Americans. [Coughlin, J. (2010). Estimating the Impact of Caregiving and Employment on Well-Being: Outcomes & Insights in Health Management.]

About 15.7 million adult family caregivers care for someone who has Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. [Alzheimer's Association. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures.]

Economic Value

The value of services provided by informal caregivers has steadily increased over the last decade, with an estimated economic value of $470 billion in 2013, up from $450 billion in 2009 and $375 billion in 2007. [AARP Public Policy Institute. (2015). Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update.]

At $470 billion in 2013, the value of unpaid caregiving exceeded the value of paid home care and total Medicaid spending in the same year, and nearly matched the value of the sales of the world's largest company, Wal-Mart ($477 billion). [AARP Public Policy Institute. (2015). Valuing the Invaluable: 2015 Update.]

The economic value of the care provided by unpaid caregivers of those with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias was $217.7 billion in 2014. [Alzheimer's Association. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures.]

Gender

65% of care recipients are female, with an average age of 69.4. The younger the care recipient, the more likely the recipient is to be male. 45% of recipients aged 18-45 are male, while 33% of recipients aged 50 or higher are male. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Upwards of 75% of all caregivers are female, and may spend as much as 50% more time providing care than males. [Institute on Aging. (2016). Read How IOA Views Aging in America.]

Male caregivers are less likely to provide personal care, but 24% helped a loved one get dressed compared to 28% of female caregivers. 16% of male caregivers help with bathing versus 30% of females. 40% of male caregivers use paid assistance for a loved one's personal care. About 14.5 million caregivers are males out of the 43.4% who care for an older family member. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2009). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Gender and Care Tasks

Males may be sharing in caregiving tasks more than in the past, but females still shoulder the major burden of care. For example, while some studies show a relatively equitable distribution of caregiving between males and females, female caregivers spend more time providing care than males do (21.9 vs. 17.4 hours per week). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2009). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Higher-hour caregivers (21 hours or more weekly) are nearly 4 times more likely to be caring for a spouse/partner. [ National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Among spousal caregivers aged 75+, both sexes provide equal amounts of care. [McCann, J. J., Hebert, L. E., Beckett, L. A., Morris, M. C., Scherr, P. A., & Evans, D. A. (2000). Comparison of Informal Caregiving by Black and White Older Adults in a Community Population.]

Other studies indicate that 36% of female caregivers handle the most difficult caregiving tasks (i.e., bathing, toileting, and dressing) when compared with 24% for their male counterparts, who are more likely to help with finances, arrangement of care, and other less burdensome tasks. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2009). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Caregiving in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ+) Communities

9% of caregivers self-identify as LGBTQ+. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

There are at least 3 million LGBTQ+ persons aged 55+ in the U.S. This number is expected to double in the next two decades. [Espinoza, R. (2014). Out and Visible: The Experiences and Attitudes of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Older Adults, Ages 45-75.]

Male caregivers report providing more hours of care than female caregivers. The average weekly hours of care provided by females from both the LGBTQ+ and general population samples is similar-26 vs. 28 hours-but LGBTQ+ males provide far more hours of care than males from the comparison sample (41 hours vs. 29). This reflects that about 14% of gay males indicate that they are full-time caregivers, spending over 150 hours per week in this capacity, compared to 3% of lesbian and 2% of bisexual respondents. [MetLife. (2010). Still Out, Still Aging: Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Baby Boomers.]

LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to be very concerned about having enough money (51% vs. 36%), experiencing loneliness in old age (32% vs. 19%), declining physical health (43% vs. 33%), not being able to take care of themselves (43% vs. 34%) or not having anybody to take care of them (30% vs. 16%) compared to non-LGBT. [Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I., Kim, H. J., Emlet, C. A., Muraco, A., Erosheva, E. A., Hoy-Ellis, C. P., Goldsen, J., & Petry, H. (2011). The Aging and Health Report: Disparities and Resilience among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults.]

20% of older LGBTQ+ individuals and 44% of older transgender individuals feel their relationship with their healthcare provider would be adversely affected if their health provider knew their sexual orientation/gender. [Fredriksen-Goldsen, K. I., Kim, H.-J., Emlet, C. A., Muraco, A., Erosheva, E. A., Hoy-Ellis, C. P., Goldsen, J., & Petry, H. (2011). The Aging and Health Report: Disparities and Resilience among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults.]

LGBTQ+ older adults are twice as likely to age as a single person, twice as likely to reside alone, and three to four times less likely to have children. [MetLife. (2010). Still Out, Still Aging: The MetLife Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Baby Boomers.]

Caregiving Tasks

Of family caregivers who provide complex chronic care:

46% perform medical and nursing tasks;

More than 96% provide help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as personal hygiene, dressing and undressing, getting in and out of bed, or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as taking prescribed medications, shopping for groceries, transportation, or using technology, or both. [AARP and United Health Hospital Fund. (2012). Home Alone: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Chronic Care.]

On average, caregivers perform 1.7 of 6 ADLs, most commonly getting in and out of beds and chairs (43%). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

On average, caregivers perform 4.2 of 7 IADLs, most commonly transportation (78%), grocery or other shopping (76%), and housework (72%). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Age

The number of hours dedicated to caregiving increases with the age of the caregiver.

Higher-hour caregivers are, on average, 51.8 years of age.

Lower-hour caregivers average 48 years of age.

Number of Hours Dedicated to Caregiving by Age of Family Caregiver

[The Partnership for Solutions. (2004). Chronic Conditions: Making the Case for Ongoing Care.]

Older caregivers are more likely to care for a spouse or partner. The average age of spousal caregivers is 62.3. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Many caregivers of older adults are themselves growing older. The average caregiver of a recipient 65 years of age or older is 63 years old. Of these caregivers, one third report being in fair to poor health. [Administration on Aging. (2005). NFCSP: Complete Resource Guide.]

Time Spent Caregiving

4 in 10 (40%) caregivers are in high-burden situations, 18% medium burden, and 41% low burden based on the Level of Care Index (1997). Burden of care increases with hours of care provided. 92% of providers providing 21 or more hours per week are high burden versus 16% of lower hour providers. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Primary family caregivers of people with dementia report spending an average of 9 hours per day providing help to their relatives. [Fisher, G. G., Franks, M. M., Plassman, B. L., Brown, S. L., Potter, G. G., Llewellyn, D., et al. (2011). Caring for Individuals with Dementia and Cognitive Impairment, not Dementia: Findings from the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study.]

Hours per Week

Family caregivers spend an average of 24.4 hours per week providing care. Nearly 1 in 4 caregivers spends 41 hours or more per week providing care. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Family caregivers who reside with those they provide care for spend 40.5 hours per week caring for this person.

Those caring for a spouse/partner spend 44.6 hours per week performing caregiving tasks.

Those caring for a child under age 18 spend 29.7 hours per week performing caregiving tasks. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Older caregivers who are 75+ years old provide 34 hours in an average week on caregiving. Middle aged caregivers report spending 21.7 hours per week on caregiving tasks. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Family and other unpaid caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias provide an estimated 21.9 hours of care per week. [Alzheimer's Association. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures.]

Months and Years Providing Care

Regardless of employment status, unpaid caregivers report that positive activities in their respective daily lives are reduced by 27.2% as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. This effect is three times greater in their personal lives than in their professional lives. [Coughlin, J. (2010). Estimating the Impact of Caregiving and Employment on Well-Being: Outcomes & Insights in Health Management.]

Measured by duration of care, Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers provide care on average 1-4 years more than caregivers caring for someone with an illness other than Alzheimer's disease. They are also more likely to be providing care for five years or longer. [Alzheimer's Association. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures.]

Race and Ethnicity

Individual adult caregivers in the U.S. identify their race/ethnicity as the following:

White: 62%

African-American: 13%

Hispanic (non-White, non-African-American): 17%

Asian-American: 6% [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Hispanic (non-White, non-African-American) and African-American caregivers experience higher burdens from caregiving and spend more time caregiving on average than their White or Asian-American peers. The percentage of high burden caregivers caregiving time by racial/ethnic groups are as follows:

African-American: 57%, 30 hours per week

Hispanic (non-White, non-African-American): 45%, 30 hours per week

White: 33%, 20 hours per week

Asian-American: 30%, 16 hours per week [Alzheimer's Association. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures.]

More than half of African-American caregivers find themselves "sandwiched" between caring for an older person and a younger person under age 18, or caring for more than one older person. African-American caregivers are also more likely to reside with the care recipient and spend an average of 20.6 hours per week providing care. In addition, 66 percent of African-American caregivers are employed full or part-time. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

The needs of care recipients vary by race/ethnicity. African-American caregivers (41%) are more likely to provide help with more than three ADLs than white caregivers (28%) or Asian-Americans (23%). [Alzheimer's Association. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures.]

Relationships between Caregivers and Care Recipients

A vast majority of caregivers (85%) care for a relative or other loved one:

42% care for a parent (31% for a mother, 11% for a father);

15% care for a friend, neighbor or another non-relative;

14 % care for a child;

7% care for a parent-in-law;

7% care for a grandparent or grandparent-in-law. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Parent care continues to be the primary caregiving situation for mid-life caregivers with 70% of the caregivers between the ages of 50 and 64. [Wagner, D. & Takagi, E. (2010). Health Affairs: Informal Caregiving by and for Older Adults.]

Most care recipients reside in their own home (48%), and one in three (35%) reside in their caregiver's home. 3 in 10 care recipients who are not in assisted-living or skilled nursing facilities reside alone (31%).

[National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2009 & 2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

The Department of Health defines abuse as, "a violation of an individual's human and civil rights by another person or persons." Abuse can take many forms, including physical, psychological, sexual, or financial abuse, discrimination, or neglect.
Under this definition, as many as 25% of elder care recipients report significant levels of abuse. [Cooper, C., Selwood, A., & Livingston, G. (2008). The Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect: A Systematic Review.]

Approximately 1 in 10 Americans aged 60+ have experienced some form of elder abuse. Some estimates range as high as 5 million elders who are abused each year. [National Council on Aging. (2016). Elder Abuse Facts.]

Only 7% of elder abuse cases are ever reported to authorities. [National Research Council. (2003). Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in an Aging America.]

For every 1 case of elder abuse known to programs and agencies there are 24 unknown cases. [Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc., Weill Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University & New York City Department for the Aging. (2011). Under the Radar: New York State Elder Abuse Prevalence Study.]

Elder abuse, even modest abuse, increases risk of death by 300% compared to elders who have not been abused. [Dong, X., Simon, M. A., Beck, T., Farran, C., McCann, J., Mendes de Leon, C., et al. (2011). Elder Abuse and Mortality: The Role of Psychological and Social Wellbeing.]

The direct medical costs associated with violent injuries to older adults are estimated to add over $5.3 billion to the nation's annual health expenditures, and the annual financial loss by victims of elder financial exploitation were estimated to be $2.9 billion in 2009, a 12% increase from 2008. [Administration on Aging: National Center on Elder Abuse. (2016). Statistics/Data: Impact of Elder Abuse].

Elder Abuse

The vast majority of caregivers (75%) reside within 20 minutes of their care recipient. 13% of caregivers reside between 20 minutes and an hour away from their care recipient.
The proportion of caregivers reporting they reside fewer than 20 minutes from the home of their care recipient has increased steadily over the past 10 years (44% in 2004, 51% in 2009, and 75% in 2015). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

48% of care recipients reside in their own home.

Higher-hour care recipients are less likely to reside at home (28%) than lower-hour recipients (57%).

Inversely, higher-hour care recipients are more likely to reside in their caregiver's home (62%) than lower-hour recipients (22%). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Approximately 5-7 million caregivers in the U.S. (about 15% of all caregivers) are long-distance caregivers. This number is projected to double by 2020. [National Council on Aging. (2006). Nearly 7 Million Long-Distance Caregivers Make Work and Personal Sacrifices.]

Long-distance caregivers have the highest annual expenses (about $8,728) compared to co-resident caregivers (about $5,885) or those who care for a loved one nearby (about $4,570). [AARP Public Policy Institute. (2008). Valuing the Invaluable: The Economic Value of Family Caregiving.]

Long-distance caregivers reside an average of 450 miles (724 km) from their care recipients (or approximately 7 hours travel time).
More males (58%) than females (42%) are long-distance caregivers. [National Alliance for Caregiving and the MetLife Mature Market Institute. (2004). Miles Away: The MetLife Study of Long-Distance Caregiving.]

Long-distance caregivers are more likely to report emotional distress (47%) than caregivers either residing with their care recipient (43%) or residing less than one hour away (28%). [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2004). Caregiving in the U.S.]

Caregivers who do not reside with their care receiver reside the following distances from those for whom they care:

Geographic Distance Between Caregiver and Care Recipient

[Gallup-Healthways. (2011). Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Survey: Caregiving Costs U.S. Economy $25.2 Billion in Lost Productivity.]

More than half of the 65 million Americans living in rural areas are over the age of 50. Elders in rural areas (about a quarter of all elders) are more likely to reside alone, near or at the poverty level, and suffer from a chronic condition or physical disability. They require an average of 46 miles of travel to get to the nearest health professional. [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rural Task Force. (2002). HHS Rural Task Force Report.]

3-6 million Americans are distance caregivers who provide care for a family member that resides an average of 450 miles away. [National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP. (2005). Caregiving in the U.S.]

About 51% of caregivers in rural areas use community-based services. [Buckwalter, K. C., & Davis, L. L. (2009). Elder Caregiving in Rural Communities.]

Caregiving in Rural Areas

There are an estimated 641,000 adults aged 60+ with cognitive and other disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury).
This number is projected to double to 1,242,794 by 2030, coinciding with the aging population of baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964. [Heller, T. (2011). Strength for Caring: Older Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Their Aging Family Caregivers.]

Families are still the primary caregivers for adults with developmental disabilities and are themselves aging. About 76% of individuals with developmental disabilities reside at home.

In 25% of these homes, the family caregiver is over 60 years of age.

The average age of the care recipient with a developmental disability is age 38. [Heller, T. (2011). Strength for Caring: Older Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Their Aging Family Caregivers.]

Older Adults with Developmental Disabilities

There are a total of 5.5 million caregivers caring for former or current military personnel in the U.S. (1.1 million post 9/11). [Ramchand, R., Tanielian, T., Fisher, M., Vaughan, C., Trail, T., Batka, C., Voorhies, P., Robbins, M., Robinson, E., & Ghosh-Dastidar, B. (2014). Key Facts and Statistics from the RAND Military Caregivers Study.]

9 in 10 (96%) caregivers of veterans are female and 70% provide care to their spouse or partner. 30% of veterans' caregivers care for a duration of 10 years or more as compared to 15% of caregivers nationally. 88% report increased stress or anxiety as a result of caregiving, and 77% state sleep deprivation as an issue. [National Alliance for Caregiving and United Health Foundation. (2010). Caregivers of Veterans: Serving on the Home Front.]

Military caregivers after 9/11 are more likely to be employed (63% vs. 47%), less likely to have a support network (47% vs. 71%), younger (37% under 30 years old vs. 11%), more likely to be caring for a recipient with a behavioral health condition (64% vs. 36%) or a VA disability rating (58% vs. 30%). [Ramchand, R., Tanielian, T., Fisher, M., Vaughan, C., Trail, T., Batka, C., Voorhies, P., Robbins, M., Robinson, E., & Ghosh-Dastidar, B. (2014). Key Facts and Statistics from the RAND Military Caregivers Study.]

Veteran care recipients (post 9/11) are more likely to have no health insurance (32% vs. 23%) or regular source of health care (28% vs. 14%), have a mobility limiting disability (80% vs. 66%) or mental health/substance abuse condition (64% vs. 33%), and meet criteria for probable depression (38% vs. 20%) compared to civilians. [Ramchand, R., Tanielian, T., Fisher, M., Vaughan, C., Trail, T., Batka, C., Voorhies, P., Robbins, M., Robinson, E., & Ghosh-Dastidar, B. (2014). Key Facts and Statistics from the RAND Military Caregivers Study.]

Veterans suffer more frequently from Traumatic Brain Injury (29%), Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Diabetes (28%), and paralysis or Spinal Cord Injury (20%). [National Alliance for Caregiving and United Health Foundation. (2010). Caregivers of Veterans: Serving on the Home Front.]

Veterans

Family Caregiver Alliance
National Center on Caregiving
(415) 434-3388 | (800) 445-8106
Website: www.caregiver.org
Email: info@caregiver.org
FCA CareNav: https://fca.cacrc.org/login
Services by State: www.caregiver.org/connecting-caregivers/services-by-state/.
The present fact sheet was prepared by Family Caregiver Alliance. © 2016 Family Caregiver Alliance. All rights reserved.
Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) seeks to improve the quality of life for caregivers through education, services, research, and advocacy. Through its National Center on Caregiving, FCA offers information on current social, public policy, and caregiving issues and provides assistance in the development of public and private programs for caregivers. For residents of the greater San Francisco Bay Area, FCA provides direct support services for caregivers of those with Alzheimerʼs disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinsonʼs, and other debilitating disorders that strike adults.

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Caregiver Statistics: Demographics - Family Caregiver Alliance

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A caregiver-sometimes called an informal caregiver -is an unpaid individual (for example, a spouse, partner, family member, friend, or neighbor) involved in assisting others with activities of daily living and/or medical tasks. Formal caregivers are paid care providers providing care in one's home or in a care setting (day care, residential facility, long-term care facility).

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Caregivers often assist patients with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and mobility, which can take a toll on their physical health. Repeated lifting or assisting patients can lead to injuries and chronic physical conditions​

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Caring for the Caregiver: A Path to Better Health

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There are 53 million unpaid family caregivers in the United States. Are you one of them? Learn how you can excel in this demanding and rewarding role by managing and minimizing stress to stay healthy.

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Many caregivers report that they lack sufficient resources, including financial support, respite services, or access to proper healthcare for themselves. This can exacerbate the stress and make it difficult for caregivers to maintain their own well-being while caring for others​.

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For those who are paid caregivers, wages may not always compensate for the intense work involved. Some caregivers also face financial challenges if they need to reduce their work hours or leave a job to care for a loved one​

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Caregiving takes a toll on mental health, especially for women and younger adults, according to a recent AARP survey.

The emotional stress that accompanies caring for an adult loved one is something that more than a third of family caregivers report. Four in 10 caregivers rarely or never feel relaxed.

Researchers are seeking to better understand how the 48 million adults providing unpaid care in the United States manage the anxiety, worry, and concern that often creeps into their daily routines. This effort comes as more than half (56%) of caregivers report that the role makes it difficult for them to care for their own mental health, and 41% report being lonely.

The survey found caregivers ages 18-34 to be most likely to suffer from anxiety as a result of caregiving. Caregivers ages 65 and older reported the lowest levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Further, women of all ages providing care consistently reported higher levels of stress and worry than men providing care.

The survey also revealed the value that caregiving can add to peoples lives. Despite the challenging emotions of caregiving, a resounding 82% of caregivers say the role gives them a sense of purpose in life, and 81% say it makes them feel good about themselves.

Coping with Emotional Stress

The 2023 survey identified the stressors faced by caregivers, but it also noted that many are finding ways to manage their mental health. Caregivers most frequently turn to self-care activities. The most popular coping mechanisms employed by caregivers include listening to music (70%), talking to friends/family (66%), and exercising (52%).

Beyond such basic self-care activities, caregivers often need greater relief and support, that is, if they have access to it. Some more formal means of addressing stress and mental health among caregivers include medication, therapy, and respite care. The researchers noted that further exploration of the barriers to these professionally-led services is needed.

Methodology

The survey of 1,001 U.S. adults ages 18 and older was conducted May 1-14, 2023. All participants either currently provide unpaid care for an adult loved one or have provided care in the last three years. The sampling included those reached by landline, cell phone, and online. The questionnaire lasted 14 minutes by phone and seven minutes online. The data were weighted by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and education.

For more information, please contact Alessandra Raimondi at araimondi@aarp.org. For media inquiries, please contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.

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Family Caregiving Strains Caregivers' Mental Health

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Caregiving strains mental health, especially for women and young adults, but provides a sense of purpose. Coping involves self-care and formal support.

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This theory emphasizes treating individuals as active participants in their care, recognizing their preferences, values, and life experiences. Caregivers collaborate with care recipients to co-create care plans that reflect the person's needs and preferences, rather than solely focusing on medical treatment. PCC advocates for seeing the patient as a whole person, integrating their emotional, social, and physical health

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Background to Person-Centred Care Theory

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Person-centred care and its significance to health and social are widely cited within research and evidence-based practice. Whilst there is plethora of theories and models on person-centred care in dementia, Kitwood’s theory remains with much greater authority…

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Derived from feminist theory, the ethics of care highlights the moral significance of relationships and dependency in caregiving. It argues that care work, often undervalued, is essential to human survival and well-being. This approach emphasizes empathy, responsibility, and attentiveness, viewing caregiving as a moral and relational obligation rather than purely transactional

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This article has been cited by the following publications. This list is generated based on data provided by Crossref.

Lynch, Kathleen 2007. Love Labour as a Distinct and Non-Commodifiable Form of Care Labour. The Sociological Review, Vol. 55, Issue. 3, p. 550.

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Donleavy, Gabriel D. 2008. No Man's Land: Exploring the Space between Gilligan and Kohlberg. Journal of Business Ethics, Vol. 80, Issue. 4, p. 807.

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Wuest, Judith Malcolm, Jean and Merritt-Gray, Marilyn 2010. Daughters' Obligation to Care in the Context of Past Abuse. Health Care for Women International, Vol. 31, Issue. 12, p. 1047.

Stark, Cynthia A. 2010. Abstraction and Justification in Moral Theory. Hypatia, Vol. 25, Issue. 4, p. 825.

Dirette, Diane 2010. Self-Awareness Enhancement through Learning and Function (SELF): A Theoretically Based Guideline for Practice. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, Vol. 73, Issue. 7, p. 309.

Hanlon, Niall and Lynch, Kathleen 2011. Men and Masculinities Around the World. p. 45.

King, Steve H. 2011. The Structure of Empathy in Social Work Practice. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Vol. 21, Issue. 6, p. 679.

Wiggs, Carol M 2011. Case Study: Baby John - nursing reflections on moral angst. Nursing Ethics, Vol. 18, Issue. 4, p. 606.

Steiner, Linda 2011. The Handbook of Global Communication and Media Ethics. p. 171.

Claassen, Rutger 2011. The Commodification of Care. Hypatia, Vol. 26, Issue. 1, p. 43.

King, Steve and Holosko, Michael J. 2012. The Development and Initial Validation of the Empathy Scale for Social Workers. Research on Social Work Practice, Vol. 22, Issue. 2, p. 174.

Eyben, Rosalind 2012. The Hegemony Cracked: The Power Guide to Getting Care onto the Development Agenda. IDS Working Papers, Vol. 2012, Issue. 411, p. 1.

de la Bellacasa, María Puig 2012. 'Nothing Comes Without Its World': Thinking with Care. The Sociological Review, Vol. 60, Issue. 2, p. 197.

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Rethinking Care Theory: The Practice of Caring and the Obligation to Care | Hypatia | Cambridge Core

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Rethinking Care Theory: The Practice of Caring and the Obligation to Care - Volume 20 Issue 3

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In caregiving, empowerment means helping individuals maintain or regain a sense of autonomy. Caregivers are encouraged to promote the dignity and self-determination of care recipients by involving them in decision-making processes and respecting their capacities and choices

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Frontiers | Person-Centered Care From a Relational Ethics Perspective for the Delivery of High Quality and Safe Healthcare: A Scoping Review

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Background: The aim of this scoping review is to explore whether or not person-centered care (PCC), in its quest to deliver high quality and safe health care…