American caregivers

More than 53 million Americans are caregivers, people who provide billions of dollars worth of unpaid care annually to people with disabilities and chronic disease. Caregivers themselves often suffer severe stress due to their efforts. This 2005 survey is of 895 caregivers living in North Carolina.

Average number of hours provided by caregivers in a week: 20.1

Caregivers who provided more than 40 hours of care per week: 13.6%

Caregivers who lived in the same household or within 20 minutes of the care recipient: 72.2%

Caregivers who were women: 59.5%

Average number of months caregivers had provided the care: 42.5 months.

Caregivers who cited stress as one of the two greatest difficulties they experienced while caregiving: 29.9%

Caregivers who cited not enough time for themselves or their families as one of the two greatest difficulties they experienced while care-giving: 27.9%

Caregivers who said their work had created or aggravated their own health problems: 3.7%

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 1, 2007. “Characteristics and Health of Caregivers and Care Recipients — North Carolina, 2005.”