The economic value of informal caregiving

Health Affairs

Volumn 18, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 182-188

  Arno, Peter S ^a   Levine, Carol ^b   Memmott, Margaret M ^c  

^a ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE   (United States)

^b United Hospital Fund   (United States)

^c Montefiore/Einstein Dept Epidemiol

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; CAREGIVER; COST OF ILLNESS; ECONOMICS; FAMILY; HEALTH SERVICE; HOME CARE; HUMAN; NURSING HOME; PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT; UNITED STATES;

CAREGIVERS; COST OF ILLNESS; FAMILY; HEALTH SERVICES NEEDS AND DEMAND; HOME NURSING; HUMANS; NURSING HOMES; UNITED STATES;

EID: 0008776659     PISSN: 02782715     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.18.2.182     Document Type: Article

References (30)

1. R. Pear, "Clinton Seeks Aid for the Care of Those with Chronic Ills," New York Times, 4 January 1999, A1.
2. See, for example, K. Whetten-Goldstein et al., "The Burden of Parkinson's Disease on Society, Family, and the Individual," Journal of the American Geriatric Society 45, no. 7 (1997): 844-849; W. Max, P. Webber, and P. Fox, "Alzheimer's Disease: The Unpaid Burden of Caring," Journal o/AgingandHealth 7, no. 2 (1995): 179-199; H.A. Turner, J.A. Catania, andj. Gagnon, "The Prevalence of Informal Caregiving to Persons with AIDS in the United States: Caregiver Characteristics and Their Implications," Social Science and Medicine 38, no. 11 (1994): 1543-1552; and J. Leon, C.K. Cheng, and P.J. Neumann, "Alzheimer's Disease Care: Costs and Potential Savings," Health Affairs (November/December 1998): 206-216.
3. See, for example, K. Whetten-Goldstein et al., "The Burden of Parkinson's Disease on Society, Family, and the Individual," Journal of the American Geriatric Society 45, no. 7 (1997): 844-849; W. Max, P. Webber, and P. Fox, "Alzheimer's Disease: The Unpaid Burden of Caring," Journal o/AgingandHealth 7, no. 2 (1995): 179-199; H.A. Turner, J.A. Catania, andj. Gagnon, "The Prevalence of Informal Caregiving to Persons with AIDS in the United States: Caregiver Characteristics and Their Implications," Social Science and Medicine 38, no. 11 (1994): 1543-1552; and J. Leon, C.K. Cheng, and P.J. Neumann, "Alzheimer's Disease Care: Costs and Potential Savings," Health Affairs (November/December 1998): 206-216.
4. See, for example, K. Whetten-Goldstein et al., "The Burden of Parkinson's Disease on Society, Family, and the Individual," Journal of the American Geriatric Society 45, no. 7 (1997): 844-849; W. Max, P. Webber, and P. Fox, "Alzheimer's Disease: The Unpaid Burden of Caring," Journal o/AgingandHealth 7, no. 2 (1995): 179-199; H.A. Turner, J.A. Catania, andj. Gagnon, "The Prevalence of Informal Caregiving to Persons with AIDS in the United States: Caregiver Characteristics and Their Implications," Social Science and Medicine 38, no. 11 (1994): 1543-1552; and J. Leon, C.K. Cheng, and P.J. Neumann, "Alzheimer's Disease Care: Costs and Potential Savings," Health Affairs (November/December 1998): 206-216.
5. See, for example, K. Whetten-Goldstein et al., "The Burden of Parkinson's Disease on Society, Family, and the Individual," Journal of the American Geriatric Society 45, no. 7 (1997): 844-849; W. Max, P. Webber, and P. Fox, "Alzheimer's Disease: The Unpaid Burden of Caring," Journal o/AgingandHealth 7, no. 2 (1995): 179-199; H.A. Turner, J.A. Catania, andj. Gagnon, "The Prevalence of Informal Caregiving to Persons with AIDS in the United States: Caregiver Characteristics and Their Implications," Social Science and Medicine 38, no. 11 (1994): 1543-1552; and J. Leon, C.K. Cheng, and P.J. Neumann, "Alzheimer's Disease Care: Costs and Potential Savings," Health Affairs (November/December 1998): 206-216.
6. C.L. Harpine, J.M. McNeil, and E.J. Lamas, "The Need for Personal Assistance with Everyday Activities: Recipients and Caregivers," Current Population Reforts, Household Economic Studies, Series P-70, no. 19 (1990).
7. N.F. Marks, "Caregiving across the Lifespan: National Prevalence and Predictors," Family Relations (January 1996): 27-36.
8. Family Caregiving in the U.S. (Bethesda, Md.: National Alliance for Caregiving, and Washington: AARP, June 1997). Caregiving in this survey was defined broadly as "providing unpaid care to a relative or friend who is aged 50 or older to help them take care of themselves."
9. R.L. Ernst and J.W. Hay, "The U.S. Economic and Social Costs of Alzheimer's Disease Revisited," American Journal of Public Health 84, no. 8 (1994): 1261-1264.
10. Max et al., "Alzheimer's Disease;" M.A. Sevick et al., "Home-Based Ventilator-Dependent Patients: Measurement of the Emotional Aspects of Home Caregiving," Heart and Lung 23, no. 4 (1994): 269-278; and Whetten-Goldstein et al., "The Burden of Parkinson's Disease."
11. Max et al., "Alzheimer's Disease;" M.A. Sevick et al., "Home-Based Ventilator-Dependent Patients: Measurement of the Emotional Aspects of Home Caregiving," Heart and Lung 23, no. 4 (1994): 269-278; and Whetten-Goldstein et al., "The Burden of Parkinson's Disease."
12. Max et al., "Alzheimer's Disease;" M.A. Sevick et al., "Home-Based Ventilator-Dependent Patients: Measurement of the Emotional Aspects of Home Caregiving," Heart and Lung 23, no. 4 (1994): 269-278; and Whetten-Goldstein et al., "The Burden of Parkinson's Disease."
13. See, for example, S. White-Means and D. Chollet, "Opportunity Wages and Workforce Adjustments: Understanding the Cost of In-Home Elder Care," Journal of Gerontology B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 51, no. 2 (1996): S82-S90; and E.R. Kingson and R. O'Grady-LeShane, "The Effects of Caregiving on Women's Social Security Benefits," Gerontologist 33, no. 2 (1993): 230-239.
14. See, for example, S. White-Means and D. Chollet, "Opportunity Wages and Workforce Adjustments: Understanding the Cost of In-Home Elder Care," Journal of Gerontology B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 51, no. 2 (1996): S82-S90; and E.R. Kingson and R. O'Grady-LeShane, "The Effects of Caregiving on Women's Social Security Benefits," Gerontologist 33, no. 2 (1993): 230-239.
15. See, for example, B.S. Harrow, S.L. Tennstedt, and J.B. McKinlay, "How Costly Is It to Care for Disabled Elders in a Community Setting?" Gerontologist 35, no. 6 (1995): 803-813; and Ernst and Hay, "The U.S. Economic and Social Costs of Alzheimer's Disease Revisited."
16. See, for example, B.S. Harrow, S.L. Tennstedt, and J.B. McKinlay, "How Costly Is It to Care for Disabled Elders in a Community Setting?" Gerontologist 35, no. 6 (1995): 803-813; and Ernst and Hay, "The U.S. Economic and Social Costs of Alzheimer's Disease Revisited."
17. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Earnings (Washington: BLS,June 1996).
18. Substantiating this estimate is a third calculation based on another wave of SIPP fielded in 1994-1995 (not shown). Assuming that the ratio of caregivers to those needing care was the same in 1995 as it was in 1986, an estimated 24.1 million caregivers is derived for 1995, which falls acceptably at the low end of our range of estimated number of caregivers in 1997.
19. A longer version of this paper is available on the Web at www.uhfnyc.org (April 1999).
20. See, for example, Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, "Physicians and Family Caregivers: A Model for Partnership," Journal of the American Medical Association 269, no. 10 (1993): 1282-1284; P. Krach and J.A. Brooks, "Identifying the Responsibilities and Needs of Working Adults Who Are Primary Caregivers," Journal of Gerontological Nursing 21, no. 10 (1995): 41-50; and B. Snyder and K. Keefe, "The Unmet Needs of Family Caregivers for Frail and Disabled Adults," Social Work in Health Care 10, no. 3 (1985): 1-14.
21. See, for example, Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, "Physicians and Family Caregivers: A Model for Partnership," Journal of the American Medical Association 269, no. 10 (1993): 1282-1284; P. Krach and J.A. Brooks, "Identifying the Responsibilities and Needs of Working Adults Who Are Primary Caregivers," Journal of Gerontological Nursing 21, no. 10 (1995): 41-50; and B. Snyder and K. Keefe, "The Unmet Needs of Family Caregivers for Frail and Disabled Adults," Social Work in Health Care 10, no. 3 (1985): 1-14.
22. See, for example, Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, "Physicians and Family Caregivers: A Model for Partnership," Journal of the American Medical Association 269, no. 10 (1993): 1282-1284; P. Krach and J.A. Brooks, "Identifying the Responsibilities and Needs of Working Adults Who Are Primary Caregivers," Journal of Gerontological Nursing 21, no. 10 (1995): 41-50; and B. Snyder and K. Keefe, "The Unmet Needs of Family Caregivers for Frail and Disabled Adults," Social Work in Health Care 10, no. 3 (1985): 1-14.
23. C. Hoffman, D. Rice, and H.Y. Sung, "Persons with Chronic Conditions: Their Prevalence and Costs," Journal of the American Medical Association 276, no. 18 (1996): 1473-1479; and S.R. Kunkel and R.A. Applebaum, "Estimating the Prevalence of Long-Term Disability for an Aging Society," Journal of Gerontology: Social Science 47, no. 5 (1992): S253-S260.
24. C. Hoffman, D. Rice, and H.Y. Sung, "Persons with Chronic Conditions: Their Prevalence and Costs," Journal of the American Medical Association 276, no. 18 (1996): 1473-1479; and S.R. Kunkel and R.A. Applebaum, "Estimating the Prevalence of Long-Term Disability for an Aging Society," Journal of Gerontology: Social Science 47, no. 5 (1992): S253-S260.
25. K. Covinsky et al., "The Impact of Serious Illness on Patients' Families," Journal of the American Medical Association 272, no. 23 (1994): 1839-1844.
26. Kingson and O'Grady-LeShane, "The Effects of Caregiving on Women's Social Security Benefits;" S.H. Sandell and H.M. Iams, "Caregiving and Women's Social Security Benefits: A Comment on Kingson and O'Grady-LeShane," Gerontologist 36, no. 6 (1996): 680-684; and R. O'Grady-LeShane and E.R. Kingson, "Caregiving and Women's Social Security Benefits: A Response to Sandell and lams," Gerontologist 36, no. 6 (1996): 812-813.
27. Kingson and O'Grady-LeShane, "The Effects of Caregiving on Women's Social Security Benefits;" S.H. Sandell and H.M. Iams, "Caregiving and Women's Social Security Benefits: A Comment on Kingson and O'Grady-LeShane," Gerontologist 36, no. 6 (1996): 680-684; and R. O'Grady-LeShane and E.R. Kingson, "Caregiving and Women's Social Security Benefits: A Response to Sandell and lams," Gerontologist 36, no. 6 (1996): 812-813.
28. Kingson and O'Grady-LeShane, "The Effects of Caregiving on Women's Social Security Benefits;" S.H. Sandell and H.M. Iams, "Caregiving and Women's Social Security Benefits: A Comment on Kingson and O'Grady-LeShane," Gerontologist 36, no. 6 (1996): 680-684; and R. O'Grady-LeShane and E.R. Kingson, "Caregiving and Women's Social Security Benefits: A Response to Sandell and lams," Gerontologist 36, no. 6 (1996): 812-813.
29. N.L. Linsk et al., Wages for Caring: Compensating Family Care for the Elderly (New York: Praeger, 1992).
30. J.K. Iglehart, "The American Health Care System: Expenditures," New England Journal of Medicine 340, no. 1 (1999): 70-76.