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Data Shows That Women Are The Primary Caregivers Of Family

July 05, 2017

Women inquired for home health services 73% of the time.

For years, women have been perceived as the ultimate caregivers. From mothering children to taking care of their elderly parents, women have always been caregivers. In fact, women represent the majority of informal care providers in this country, especially when families don’t stay together. According to census data, 82.2% of mothers are single parents compared to 17.8% for fathers.

In the last 30 years, women have transformed the corporate world. According to the US. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1975, only 47% of women worked full-time, whereas in 2011, over 70% of women work full-time. We’ve seen a fundamental shift in how women spend their time, but women still remain steadfast on their commitment to take on the role as primary caregiver within a family.

For the past 25 years, Options for Senior America has screened 38,281 care providers and fielded over 47,778 inquiries from people looking for home health care services for their loved one. As a result, they have compiled some research that tells an interesting story.

Research produced by Options for Senior America, Corp,, a home health care group which started in April 1989 in Montgomery County, MD, and now has branches and franchises in eight different states along the east coast, shows that women are typically the primary caregivers of a family.

When Options for Senior America received an inquiry from children who are looking for home health care services for their parents, 73% of the time it came from a daughter or daughter-in-law. And, these statistics have been consistent over time, year after year.

Does this mean that women care more than men? Not necessarily

“Women are typically able to convey the needs of a family more clearly than men when it comes to health care options for their family. However, the entire family is typically involved with the decision to utilize home health care services,” said Ramzi Rihani, President & CEO of Options for Senior America.

It is important to note that this data came only from Maryland, DC, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

The research report uncovered some other interesting statistics:

  • 77% of the time the care recipient currently lived with family.
  • 87% of the people who needed services were over the age of 70.
  • When spouses inquired about home health care services,, 68% of the time women were calling for their husbands.
  • 49% of all people inquiring were the children inquiring for their parents, while 16% of all inquiries were by individuals who requested home health care for themselves.

The industry continues to grow, as approximately 12 million people in the U.S. now require some form of home health care. And, as baby boomers enter the later stages of their lives, the industry will continue to grow.

And, the data shows that, even as women’s roles expand in our society, future inquiries of health care services will mostly continue to come from women.

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