Male Caregivers in Numbers
Among the ranks of older generations, the family caregivers are often women in their late 40’s, caring for a mother or mother-in-law in her 60’s. Typically, they are not living in the same house as their care recipient. And they are often married and employed.
The younger generations have a different take on care-giving. Although the care-giver population may be predominantly female in the past years, males from the incoming groups are quickly catching up. Today, studies show that up to 45% of care-givers are men. According to “The Millennial Care-giver”, a study by the AARP Public Policy Institute and the National Alliance for Care-giving, care-givers from the 18-34 age range are equally likely to be male or female.
A Different Approach to Care-giving
Male care-givers approach care-giving differently than their female counterparts. In a study done by researchers at Bowling Green State University, researchers cited that men appear to deal with care-giver stress better through a ‘block and tackle’ approach. What they do is address one issue before moving on to the next, whereas women care-givers tend to internalize their performance with worry and anxiety. They are also more assertive when it comes to demanding answers about their loved one’s health issues.
However, unlike their counterparts, male care-givers are perceived to be less inclined to ask for help. The New York City chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association cited in a recent Forbes article that only 20% of the callers to their help lines are men. They struggle with the intricacies of the health care system and find it difficult to address problems with no clear-cut solutions.
