Care Facts

Cost of Caregiving

Women who are caregivers during their working years are 2.5 times more likely to live in poverty as elders than women who have not been caregivers.

Caregivers and Depression

Between 40 and 70% of caregivers have clinically significant depression.

Caregiver Mortality Rate

Spouses, aged 66-96, who experience caregiving related stress, have a 63% higher mortality rate than non-caregivers of the same age.

Working Caregivers

73% of caregivers are employed at some point while they are caregiving, and among them two-thirds have gone in late, left early or taken time off during the day to deal with caregiving issues.  One in five took a leave of absence.

Time Given to Caregiving

Over half of caregivers say their caregiving takes time away from friends and other family members.

Increased Stress

31% of caregivers rate their stress as 4 to 5 on a 5-point scale.

Health Issues From Caregiving

17% of caregivers feel their health has gotten worse as a result of caregiving.

Average Time Caregiving

Caregivers spend an average of 4.6 years providing care.  Many are in that role significantly longer than the average.

Caregiving Cost to Public Sector

Research shows that for every 1 percent decline in the percent of eldercare provided by family and friends in Minnesota, it costs the public sector an additional $30 million per year. 1

National Value of Caregiving

The estimated national value of informal caregiving is $306 billion dollars annually.