| POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS |
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Women play a significant role in society as caregivers for family members. In 1998, 9 percent of women were caring for a sick or disabled relative. Of these women, 43 percent provided more than 20 hours of care per week. While women of all incomes fulfill caregiving roles, there is a greater caregiving burden on lower income women. In 1998, 52 percent of women caregivers with annual family incomes of $35,000 or less spent 20 hours or more providing care each week. Only 29 percent of women with family incomes higher than $35,000 devoted as much time to these activities. Lower income women were also substantially more likely to live with a relative for whom they were providing care.
Twenty-four percent of women who were providing informal caregiving were assisted by additional paid care. Almost twice as many women with annual incomes greater than $35,000 had additional paid help as compared to women with lower incomes.
Grandparents also play an important role in caregiving. In 2000, there were more than 2.4 million grandparents responsible for the care of their grandchildren(1), 62 percent of whom were grandmothers. Studies have shown that grandparents raising grandchildren are more likely than their counterparts without this responsibility to be in poor health. They are more likely to have multiple chronic health problems and to be clinically depressed than grandparents who are not the primary caretakers of their grandchildren.(2)
1 - A grandparent is responsible for their grandchild if they are financially responsible for food, shelter, clothing, and day care for any or all grandchildren living in the household.
2 - Casper, Lynne, and Bryson, Kenneth. (1998). Co-resident Grandparents and Their Grandchildren: Grandparent Maintained Families. U.S. Bureau of the Census: Population Division.
