1

CAREGIVER 

PROFILE

Caring for an Older Veteran

A comparison of informal caregivers whose care recipient is a veteran versus informal 

caregivers whose care recipient is not a veteran 

PURPOSE

This profile examines the differences in caregiver demographics and the 

dynamics at play between those who are caring for a U.S. veteran older 

adult (60 years or older) at home (N=309) and those who are caring for a 

non-veteran older adult at home (N=1,259). The data used in this profile 

were collected by interview in December 2016 for the Administration for 

Community Living’s outcome evaluation of the Older Americans Act Title 

III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP).

These comparisons can help organizations in the National Aging Network, 

an informal network of home- and community-based care providers, 

understand the needs and the characteristics of caregivers of veterans.

Caregivers of Veterans are 

caregivers who have a care 

recipient who is a veteran 

(age 60 or older)

Caregivers of Non-Veterans

are caregivers who have a 

care recipient who is not a 

veteran

CAREGIVER DEMOGRAPHICS

 The mean age of caregivers of 

veterans was 70 years, while 

the mean age of caregivers of 

non-veterans was 65 years. 

 More caregivers of nonveterans were employed (32%) 

compared with caregivers of 

veterans (21%).

 More caregivers of veterans 

were female (93%) compared 

with caregivers of nonveterans (68%).

 More caregivers of veterans 

identified as white (80%) 

compared with caregivers of 

non-veterans (67%).

Caregivers of Veterans and Caregivers of Non-Veterans by age group, 

employment status, gender, and race/ethnicity
2

NUMBER OF YEARS CAREGIVING

On average, caregivers of non-veterans had been caregiving for 7.0 years, 

compared with an average of 5.7 years for caregivers of veterans. 

CARE RECIPIENT CHARACTERISTICS

The average age of veteran 

care recipients (CRs) was 82, 

compared with an average age 

of 80.5 for non-veteran CRs.

Veteran CRs were 97% 

male, while non-veteran 

CRs were 25% male.

RELATIONSHIP TO CARE RECIPIENT

  More caregivers of

veterans were the 

CR’s spouse (71%) 

compared with 

caregivers of nonveterans (37%).

CARE RECIPIENT DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER’S 

62% of veteran CRs were 

diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 

Disease or Related Dementias 

compared with 49% of nonveteran CRs.
3

USE OF CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES

Caregivers of veterans used more support services 

than caregivers of non-veterans. Thirty-six percent of 

caregivers of veterans used education services (from 

any source) compared with 28% of caregivers of nonveterans. Caregivers of veterans used similar amounts 

of respite care as caregivers of non-veterans.

Among a subgroup of 1,242 caregivers who were listed 

as clients of an Area Agency on Aging across the 

country, 17% of caregivers of veterans used NFCSP 

support groups in the past 6 months compared to 11% 

of caregivers of non-veterans.

Key DifferencesBetween Veteran and Non-Veteran Caregivers

 Caregivers of veterans were older than non-veteran caregivers, with an average age of 70 compared to an 

average age of 65 for non-veteran caregivers.1

 Caregivers of non-veterans were more likely to have part-time or full-time employment.1

 On average, veteran CRs were older than non-veteran CRs.2

 More veteran CRs were male compared with non-veteran CRs.1

 Almost three-fourths of caregivers of veterans were spouses of CRs compared to a little over one-third of 

caregivers of non-veterans.1

 Veteran CRs were more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementias in 

comparison to non-veteran CRs.1

 Caregivers of veterans were more likely to report using caregiver education services (from any source) 

compared with caregivers of non-veterans.2

 Among the subset of caregivers who were AAA clients, caregivers of veterans were more likely to use 

NFCSP support groups in the past 6 months compared with caregivers of non-veterans.2

DATA SOURCE

This profile utilized the data collected by Westat during baseline interviews for the NFCSP outcome evaluation. The 

sample of 1,568 caregivers reside in 43 states in the United States. Veteran status of the CR was determined by the 

caregiver’s YES or NO response to the survey item: “Is your care recipient a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?” 

Information about NFCSP, evaluation sample design, and the evaluation findings are publicly available at 

https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2018-12/Caregiver_Outcome_Evaluation_Final_Report.pdf. 

1 Significantly different at p-value < 0.001 2 p-value < 0.01

Group means and frequencies were calculated for each characteristic. T-test, Chi-square, and 

Mantel-Haenszel chi-square statistics were used to test significant differences between veteran 

and non-veteran caregivers. Percentages were rounded to the nearest whole number.