Current and Future Family Help with Long-Term Care Needs of the Elderly

Abstract

An accurate perspective of the variation in current mixes of familial/public sector support for older individuals with health-related needs requires a careful assessment of the huge diversity -in the sociodemographic composition of the older population as well as in the availability and type of family caregiving resources. This analysis of a sample of individuals 60 years of age and older from the National Survey of Families and Households attempts to provide an in-depth assessment of the sociodemographic composition of the older population and variation in primary kin support for this population by determining (a) the proportions of various age/race/gender population segments of the elderly that have one or more potential primary kin caregivers; (b) the number and proportions of these population segments who are in need of family support due to health status; and (c) who within these population segments receives familial assistance and who does not, given a consideration of both the potential family support network and health status. The analysis also includes an illustrative exercise exploring the potential future impact on the level of unmet need from changes in female labor force participation rates and norms regarding both work and parent care.