The Aging Network

July 3, 1997

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
AOA-IM-97-15

TO: : STATE AND AREA AGENCIES ON AGING AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS ADMINISTERING PLANS UNDER TITLES III AND VI OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED

SUBJECT: Family Caregiving in the U.S. Survey

LEGAL AND RELATED REFERENCES: Older Americans Act, as amended

The first major caregiving study in ten years was released at a Senate Special Committee on Aging briefing on June 17, 1997. The survey, conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), was sponsored by Glaxo-Wellcome, Inc., the Archstone Foundation, ManorCare Health Services and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

The survey involved a national random dial telephone survey to identify the prevalence, demographics, impacts on and needs of family caregivers of the elderly. The survey database of 1,509 respondents includes an oversampling of Hispanic, African American, and Asian American caregivers. This was done to address a lack of minority caregiver data.

According to the survey, 23.2 percent of all U.S. households, or 22,441,200 households, are involved in caregiving. The majority (64.2 percent) of these caregivers are employed, more than half (51.8 percent) full-time.

A press release and fact sheet on the survey are attached. A report summarizing the survey findings entitled: Family Caregiving in the U.S.: Findings from a National Survey, may be obtained by writing AARP Fulfillment, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049. The order number D16474 should be used when requesting the report.

EFFECTIVE DATE : Immediate

William F. Benson
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging

2 Attachments:
National Alliance for Caregiving
Family Caregiver Fact Sheet