What are career and economic costs associated with caregiving?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

There are also career and economic costs associated with caregiving. For example, men and women who participated in the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe showed that giving informal care to one's elderly parents was associated with significant costs in terms of employment opportunities and participation. Among a U.S. sample of caregivers who reduced their work hours or left the workforce to care for a parent, about half reported losing income. As women are more likely than men to be expected to provide care, caregiving can interfere with women's employment, causing losses in hours and earnings. According to one estimate, women who become caregivers to their parents may lose over $300,000, on average, in income and benefits over their lifetime. Caregiving responsibilities for parents may place female caregivers at risk of living in poverty and requiring public assistance later in life. Caregivers who face multiple career and child-rearing demands are at risk for role strain, depressive symptoms, a reduced sense of personal mastery and self-efficacy, and to engage in fewer outside activities.