Caregivers of the Frail Elderly: A National Profile

Abstract

The 1982 National Long-Term Care Survey and Informal Caregivers Survey provided data for the first national estimates of informal caregivers to noninstitutionalized disabled elders. The descriptive profile confirmed previous research findings that informal caregivers are predominantly female, that a sizeable proportion is over age 65, and that a minority use formal services. There also was evidence for competing demands: 21% reported child care responsibilities, 9% indicated that they had quit their jobs, and 20% reported other work conflict.