This study looks at the prevalence and predicators in informal care for cognitive impairment or probable dementia in the U.S.

US Prevalence and Predictors of Informal Caregiving for Dementia

Esther M. Friedman, Regina A. Shih, Kenneth M. Langa, Michael D. Hurd

ResearchPosted on rand.org Oct 20, 2015Published in: Health Affairs, v. 34, no. 10, Oct. 2015, p. 1637-1641

In 2010, 5.5 million US adults ages seventy and older received informal care, including 3.6 million with cognitive impairment or probable dementia. Adults with probable dementia received 171 hours of monthly informal care, versus 89 hours for cognitively impaired adults without dementia and 66 hours for cognitively normal adults.

Key Takeaways

  • Informal caregivers provide 83 percent of the hours of care received by all older adults. Those with probable dementia received 171 hours of informal care per month versus 89 for the cognitively impaired and 66 hours for normal adults.
  • Spouses are the primary caregivers for adults with normal cognition, but daughters are more likely to provide informal care for adults with cognitive impairment or dementia.
  • Married people with probable dementia are more likely to receive intensive informal care than their unmarried counterparts.
  • White adults are significantly less likely to receive intensive informal care than their black and Hispanic counterparts.
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Document Details

  • Copyright: Project HOPE
  • Availability: Non-RAND
  • Year: 2015
  • Pages: 5
  • Document Number: EP-50899

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