A new study indicates that women are shouldering a lot more of the load when it comes to family caregiving than men are.
There are a number of reasons why this happens. Some of it has to do with cultural norms in the U.S. Even though some of the distinctions between what men and women “should” do have fallen away over the last several decades, some of these preconceived notions still exist. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does play a big role in how family care shapes up.
Additionally, women tend to live longer lives than men do. Spouses often provide family care for one another and with women living longer on average, it tends to be the man that is in need of help before the woman does.
Also, women tend to have lower paying jobs than men do. This can make it easier for a woman to leave her job and help an older loved one than a man. This isn’t fair by any means, but for a lot of people, it is their reality. The fact that women provide the majority of unpaid care–whatever the reasons why–ultimately will only help to perpetuate this pay gap. Of the people aged 55 and older that have cut down working hours to help with a family member’s care, women are about four times more likely to be in this situation.
When it comes to unpaid caregivers, women account for 59 percent of those that are helping. That leaves men providing 41 percent of care. The vast majority of these females are 55 years old or older. And as the population of the U.S. continues to age, it is estimated that the average age of unpaid caregivers is going to continue to rise. That places a large burden on families.
Being a family caregiver is really hard. That’s true for a lot of things that are family related, actually. But the difference between being a family caregiver for an older loved one and some other aspects of family life is that senior citizens often have specialized needs that can best be met by professional training. Most family members don’t have this kind of training. Some extra support can go a long way in these instances.
You do not have to do this on your own. Sometimes, having the help of a professional caregiver is the difference maker in allowing your loved one to have a higher quality of life. Providing care to a loved one is hard, and it’s a noble goal, but it’s not always the best for your family. It’s recognizing that sometimes a loved one needs more than what you’re capable of meeting alone.
If you would like to talk with one of our professional caregivers about how we might be able to help you, please give us a call. We offer free consultation sessions that are designed to help answer questions and get you pointed toward the right resources. There’s no obligation on your end.
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