For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday, September 20, 2017 USDL-17-1292 

Technical information: (202) 691-6339 • atusinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/tus 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov 

UNPAID ELDERCARE IN THE UNITED STATES — 2015-16

DATA FROM THE AMERICAN TIME USE SURVEY

Sixteen percent of the civilian noninstitutional population age 15 and over (41.3 million people) provide 

unpaid eldercare, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. About one-fourth (26 percent) of 

eldercare providers engage in unpaid eldercare on a given day, spending an average of 2.8 hours 

providing this care. These estimates are averages for the 2-year period of 2015-16. 

Eldercare providers are defined as individuals who provide unpaid care to someone age 65 or older 

who needs help because of a condition related to aging. This care can be provided to household or 

nonhousehold members, as well as persons living in retirement homes or assisted care facilities. 

Eldercare can involve a range of care activities, such as assisting with grooming, preparing meals, and 

providing transportation. Eldercare also can involve providing companionship or being available to 

assist when help is needed, and thus it can be associated with nearly any activity.

Information about eldercare providers and the time they spend providing care are collected as part of the 

American Time Use Survey (ATUS). The ATUS is a continuous household survey that provides 

estimates on how people spend their time. For a description of ATUS data, concepts, and methodology, 

see the Technical Note.

Eldercare providers in 2015-16 

• Of the 41.3 million eldercare providers in the civilian noninstitutional population age 15 and 

over, the majority (56 percent) were women. (See table 1.) 

• Individuals ages 55 to 64 were the most likely to provide eldercare (24 percent), followed by 

those ages 45 to 54 (21 percent) and those ages 65 and over (19 percent). (See table 1.) 

• Almost one-half (48 percent) of eldercare providers had provided this care for 2 years or less, 

while 14 percent had provided care for 10 years or more. Forty-five percent of caregivers

provided care daily or several times a week. (See table 2.)

• Thirty-nine percent of eldercare providers cared for someone age 85 or older, while 14 percent 

provided care for someone age 65 to 69. (See table 2.) 
- 2 - 

• A majority of all eldercare providers ages 15 to 34 cared for a grandparent. Providers ages 35 to 

64 were more likely to care for a parent than were caregivers who were younger and older, and 

those ages 65 and over were more likely to care for a spouse. (See table 3.) 

• Sixteen percent of eldercare providers cared solely for someone with whom they lived, and 83 

percent cared solely for someone with whom they did not live. Those who provided eldercare for 

someone in their household were more than three times as likely to provide eldercare on a given 

day than those who provided care for someone living in another household—64 percent 

compared with 18 percent. (See tables 2 and 4.) 

Time spent providing eldercare in 2015-16 

• On a given day, about one-fourth (26 percent) of eldercare providers engaged in eldercare. 

Compared with those in other age groups, eldercare providers who were ages 65 and older were 

the most likely to provide care on a given day (38 percent). (See table 4.)

• On average over all days—including days they did and did not provide care—providers who 

cared solely for someone with whom they lived (6.5 million providers) spent 2.2 hours per day 

providing care. (See table 4.) 

• Eldercare providers who cared solely for a parent spent an average of 49 minutes per day 

providing eldercare (includes days they did and did not provide care). (See table 4.) 

• On days they provided eldercare, persons spent an average of 2.8 hours in caregiving activities. 

Providers ages 65 and over spent the most time providing eldercare (3.6 hours). (See table 4.) 

• On weekend days they provided care, employed eldercare providers spent an average of 2.4 

hours doing so. This compares to an average of 1.8 hours for employed caregivers who provided 

care on weekdays. (See table 4.)

• Women were more likely than men to provide eldercare on a given day—28 percent of female 

eldercare providers engaged in eldercare activities on an average day, compared with 23 percent 

of male eldercare providers. On days they provided eldercare, men and women spent about the 

same amount of time providing this care (2.8 hours and 2.9 hours, respectively). (See table 4.)

Eldercare activities in 2015-16 

• On days they provided care, 37 percent of eldercare providers engaged in caregiving associated 

with household activities, spending on average 32 minutes per day in these activities. This 

includes 27 percent of providers who engaged in eldercare associated with food preparation and 

cleanup and 13 percent who provided eldercare associated with housework. (See table 5.) 

• Thirty-seven percent of eldercare providers engaged in caregiving associated with leisure and 

sports on days they provided care, spending 1.0 hour per day in these activities. This includes 24 

percent of eldercare providers who engaged in eldercare associated with socializing and 

communicating, spending 25 minutes per day in these activities. (See table 5.)
- 3 - 

Eldercare providers who were parents of household children under age 18 in 2015-16 

• There were 8.7 million eldercare providers who were parents of children living at home. Of these 

parents, about one-third (33 percent) had a child under age 6, and the remainder (67 percent) 

were parents whose youngest child was between the ages of 6 and 17. (See table 9.) 

• Almost one-half (47 percent) of eldercare providers who were parents of children under the age 

of 18 provided care for their own parent. These persons sometimes are described as members of 

the “sandwich generation,” because they are in between two generations that require care. (See 

table 9.) 

• Most (81 percent) eldercare providers who were parents were employed, and 64 percent were 

employed full time. Eighty-six percent of fathers were employed full time, compared with 48 

percent of mothers. (See table 9.) 

• Seventeen percent of eldercare providers who were parents had no spouse or unmarried partner 

present in the household. (See table 9.) 

• Eldercare providers who were parents were less likely to provide daily care than the overall 

population of eldercare providers (14 percent compared with 21 percent) but just as likely to 

provide care several times a week (about 25 percent). (See tables 2 and 9.) 
Technical Note

The estimates in this release are from the American 

Time Use Survey (ATUS). The ATUS, which is conducted 

by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

(BLS), is a continuous survey about how individuals age 15 

and over spend their time. In the 2-year period of 2015–16, 

approximately 21,000 individuals were interviewed for the 

ATUS; of these, approximately 3,400 individuals were 

identified as eldercare providers. Data for the combined 

years of 2015–16 were used to facilitate a more in-depth 

analysis of eldercare. 

Information in this release will be made available to 

sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 

(202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Survey methodology 

 ATUS sample households are chosen from the 

households that completed their eighth (final) interview for 

the Current Population Survey (CPS), the nation’s monthly 

labor force survey. ATUS sample households are selected 

to ensure that estimates will be nationally representative of 

the civilian noninstitutional population. One individual age 

15 or over—referred to as the designated person—is 

randomly chosen from each sampled household. This 

person is interviewed by telephone once about his or her 

activities on the day before the interview. 

All ATUS interviews are conducted using Computer 

Assisted Telephone Interviewing. Procedures are in place to 

collect information from the small number of households that 

did not provide a telephone number during the CPS 

interview. 

ATUS designated persons are preassigned a day of the 

week about which to report. Preassignment is designed to 

reduce variability in response rates across the week and to 

allow oversampling of weekend days so that accurate 

weekend day measures can be developed. Interviews occur 

on the day following the assigned day. For example, a person 

assigned to report about a Monday would be contacted on the 

following Tuesday. Ten percent of designated persons are 

assigned to report about each of the five weekdays. Twentyfive percent are assigned to report about each weekend day. 

Households are called for up to 8 consecutive weeks (for 

example, 8 Tuesdays) in order to secure an interview.

About the questionnaire 

In the time diary portion of the ATUS interview, survey 

respondents sequentially report activities they did between 4 

a.m. on the day before the interview until 4 a.m. on the day 

of the interview. For each activity, respondents are asked 

how long the activity lasted. For activities other than 

personal care activities (such as sleeping and grooming), 

interviewers also ask respondents where they were and who

was in the room with them (if at home) or who accompanied

 

them (if away from home). If respondents report doing more 

than one activity at a time, they are asked to identify which 

one was their main activity. If none can be identified, the 

interviewer records the first activity mentioned. After 

completing the time diary, interviewers ask additional 

questions, including questions to identify eldercare providers 

and activities done as eldercare. Questions on eldercare were 

added to the survey in 2011. 

After completing the interview, activity descriptions 

are assigned a single 6-digit code using the ATUS Coding 

Lexicon. The 3-tier coding system consists of 17 major 

activity categories, each with multiple second- and third-tier 

subcategories. These coding lexicon categories are then 

combined into composite categories for publication. 

Descriptions of categories shown in this release can be found 

in the Activity definitions section of this Technical Note. The 

ATUS Coding Lexicons can be accessed at 

www.bls.gov/tus/lexicons.htm.

Concepts and definitions

Average day. The average day measure reflects an 

average distribution across all persons in the reference 

population and all days of the week.

 

Average hours per day. The average number of hours 

spent in a 24-hour day (between 4 a.m. on the diary day and 

4 a.m. on the interview day) doing a specified activity.

• Average hours per day, population. The average 

number of hours per day is computed using all 

responses from a given population, including those 

of respondents who did not do a particular activity 

on their diary day. These estimates reflect how 

many population members engaged in an activity 

and the amount of time they spent doing it.

• Average hours per day, persons who did the 

activity. The average number of hours per day is 

computed using only responses from those who 

engaged in a particular activity on their diary day.

Condition related to aging. An ongoing ailment or 

physical or emotional limitation that typically affects older 

people, such as becoming more frail; having difficulty 

seeing, hearing, or physically moving; becoming more 

forgetful; tiring more quickly; or having specific medical 

ailments that are more common among older adults. It also 

refers to existing conditions that become progressively worse 

as one ages.

 

Diary day. The diary day is the day about which the 

respondent reports. For example, the diary day of a 

respondent interviewed on Tuesday is Monday.
Eldercare. Eldercare is providing unpaid care or 

assistance to an individual who needed help because of a 

condition related to aging. This care can be provided by a 

family member or non-family member. Care can be provided 

in the recipient’s home, the provider’s home, or a care 

facility such as a nursing home.

Eldercare can involve a range of care activities, such as 

assisting with grooming and feeding, preparing meals, 

arranging medical care, and providing transportation. 

Eldercare also can involve providing companionship or 

being available to assist when help is needed, and thus it can 

be associated with nearly any activity.

Estimates of the time spent providing eldercare are 

derived by summing the durations of activities during which 

respondents provided care or assistance for an adult who 

needed help because of a condition related to aging. These 

estimates never include times the respondent reported 

sleeping, grooming, or engaging in personal care services.

Eldercare provider. An individual who provided 

eldercare more than one time in the 3 to 4 months prior to the 

interview day. The time frame varies slightly by respondent 

because the question asks about care provided between the 

first day of a given reference month and the interview day. 

Estimates are restricted to eldercare providers caring for at 

least one person age 65 or older.

Employment status

• Employed. All persons who: 

1) At any time during the 7 days prior to the 

interview did any work at all as paid employees, 

or worked in their own business, profession, or on 

their own farm; or 

2) Were not working during the 7 days prior to the 

interview but had jobs or businesses from which 

they were temporarily absent because of illness, 

bad weather, vacation, childcare problems, labormanagement disputes, maternity or paternity 

leave, job training, or other family or personal 

reasons, whether or not they were paid for the 

time off or were seeking other jobs; or

3) Usually worked 15 hours or more as unpaid 

workers in a family-operated enterprise.

• Employed full time. Full-time workers are those 

who usually worked 35 or more hours per week at 

all jobs combined.

• Employed part time. Part-time workers are those 

who usually worked fewer than 35 hours per week 

at all jobs combined.

• Not employed. Persons are not employed if they do 

not meet the conditions for employment. People 

who are not employed include those classified as 

unemployed as well as those classified as not in the 

labor force (using CPS definitions). 

Household children. Household children are children 

under age 18 residing in the household of the ATUS 

respondent. The children may be related to the respondent 

(such as his or her own children, grandchildren, nieces or 

nephews, or brothers or sisters) or not related (such as foster 

children or children of roommates or boarders).

Primary activity. A primary activity is the main activity 

a respondent was doing at a specified time. 

Weekday, weekend, and holiday estimates. Estimates 

for weekdays are an average of reports about Monday 

through Friday. Estimates for weekend days and holidays are 

an average of reports about Saturdays, Sundays, and the 

following holidays: New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial

Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and 

Christmas Day. In 2016, data were not collected about

Christmas Day. 

Activity definitions

The following definitions describe the activities

associated with eldercare appearing in this release. These are 

diary activities that survey respondents identified as ones 

during which they had provided care or assistance for an 

adult who needed help because of a condition related to 

aging. 

Eating and drinking. All time spent eating or drinking 

(except eating and drinking done as part of a work or 

volunteer activity) is classified here.

Household activities. Household activities are activities 

done by people to maintain their households. These include 

housework; cooking; lawn and garden care; pet care; vehicle 

maintenance and repair; home maintenance, repair, 

decoration, and renovation; and household management and 

organizational activities (such as filling out paperwork or 

planning a party). Food preparation, whether or not reported 

as done specifically for another household member, is 

always classified as a household activity unless it was done 

as a volunteer, work, or income-generating activity, or when 

done for a nonhousehold member. 

Purchasing goods and services. This category includes

time spent obtaining, receiving, and purchasing consumer 

goods, professional services, household services, and 

government services. Consumer purchases include most

purchases and rentals of consumer goods. Professional 

services refer to financial services and banking, legal 

services, medical and adult care services, real estate services, 

and veterinary services. Household services include 
housecleaning; cooking; lawn care and landscaping; pet care; 

tailoring, laundering, and dry cleaning; vehicle maintenance 

and repairs; and home repairs, maintenance, and 

construction. This category also captures the time spent 

obtaining government services—such as applying for food 

stamps—and purchasing government-required licenses or 

paying fines or fees.

Caring for and helping household members. Time 

spent doing activities to care for members of the household, 

regardless of relationship to the respondent or the physical or 

mental health status of the person being helped, is classified 

here. This category includes a range of activities done to 

benefit members of households, such as providing physical 

and medical care or obtaining medical services.

Caring for and helping nonhousehold members. This 

category includes time spent in activities done to care for or 

help individuals who do not live in the household. When 

done for or through an organization, time spent helping 

nonhousehold members is classified as volunteering, rather 

than as helping nonhousehold members.

Working and work-related activities. This category 

includes time spent working, doing activities as part of one's 

job, engaging in income-generating activities not as part of 

one's job, and job search activities. "Working" includes hours 

spent doing the specific tasks required of one's main or other 

job, regardless of location or time of day. "Work-related 

activities" include activities that are not obviously work but 

are done as part of one's job, such as having a business lunch 

and playing golf with clients. "Other income-generating 

activities" are those done "on the side" or under informal 

arrangement and are not part of a regular job. Such activities 

might include selling homemade crafts, maintaining a rental 

property, or having a yard sale. These activities are those for 

which people are paid or will be paid.

Organizational, civic, and religious activities. This 

category captures time spent volunteering for or through an 

organization, performing civic obligations, and participating 

in religious and spiritual activities. 

Leisure and sports. The leisure and sports category 

includes time spent in sports, exercise, and recreation; 

socializing and communicating; and other leisure activities. 

Sports, exercise, and recreation activities include 

participating in—as well as attending or watching—sports,

exercise, and recreational activities. Recreational activities 

include yard games like croquet or horseshoes, as well as 

activities like billiards and dancing. Socializing and 

communicating includes face-to-face social communication 

and hosting or attending social functions. Leisure activities 

include watching television; reading; relaxing or thinking; 

playing computer, board, or card games; using a computer or

the Internet for personal interest; playing or listening to 

music; and other activities, such as attending arts, cultural, 

and entertainment events.

Telephone calls, mail, and e-mail. This category

captures time spent in telephone communication and 

handling household or personal mail or e-mail. This category 

also includes texting and Internet voice and video calling.

Traveling. This category includes all travel, regardless 

of mode or purpose, as well as security procedures related to 

traveling.

Other activities, not elsewhere classified. This is a 

residual category intended to capture activities not elsewhere 

classified in each table. These might be ambiguous activities 

that could not be coded, missing activities, or activities that 

occurred very infrequently. Missing activities result when 

respondents do not remember what they did for a period of 

time, or when they consider an activity too private or 

personal to report. This category includes a small amount of 

time that was spent in educational activities, as no 

educational activities category appears in the tables. 

Processing and estimation

After ATUS data are collected, they go through an 

editing and imputation procedure. Responses to CPS 

questions that are re-asked in the ATUS go through the 

regular CPS edit and imputation procedures. Some item 

nonresponses for questions unique to the ATUS also are 

imputed.

ATUS records are weighted quarterly to reduce bias in 

the estimates due to differences in sampling and response 

rates across subpopulations and days of the week. 

Specifically, the data are weighted to ensure the following:

• Weekdays represent about 5/7 of the weighted 

data, and weekend days represent about 2/7 of the 

weighted data for the population as a whole. The 

actual proportions depend on the number of 

weekdays and weekend days in a given quarter.

• The sum of the weights is equal to the number of 

person-days in the quarter for the population as a 

whole and for selected subpopulations (the 

population times the number of days in the 

quarter). 

Reliability of the estimates

Statistics based on the ATUS are subject to both 

sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample, rather than 

the entire population, is surveyed, estimates differ from the 

true population values they represent. The component of this 

difference that occurs because samples differ by chance is 

known as sampling error, and its variability is measured by 

the standard error of the estimate.

Sample estimates from a given survey design are 

unbiased when an average of the estimates from all possible 

samples would yield, hypothetically, the true population 

value. In this case, the sample estimate and its standard error 

can be used to construct approximate confidence intervals, 

or ranges of values that include the true population value 

with known probabilities. If the process of selecting a sample 
from the population were repeated many times, an estimate 

made from each sample, and a suitable estimate of its 

standard error calculated for each sample, then 

approximately 90 percent of the intervals from 1.645 

standard errors below the estimate to 1.645 standard errors 

above the estimate would include the true population value. 

BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level 

of confidence.

The ATUS data also are affected by nonsampling error, 

which is the average difference between population and 

sample values for samples generated by a given process. 

Nonsampling error can occur for many reasons, including the 

failure to sample a segment of the population, inability to 

obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability 

or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct 

information, and errors made in the collection or processing 

of the data. Errors also could occur if nonresponse is 

correlated with time use.

Nonsampling error and eldercare. Eldercare done for a 

spouse or partner may be underreported, especially when the 

care provided has only recently become necessary. For 

example, a survey respondent who has always prepared the 

family dinner may not view cooking as an eldercare activity; 

if her husband is no longer capable of preparing his own

meals, though, he depends on this assistance and it meets the 

definition of eldercare.

 Additionally, nonsampling error affects data on the 

frequency of care. Survey respondents were asked how often 

they provided eldercare in recent months and whether they 

provided eldercare on the diary day. Information about care 

provided on the diary day was used to calculate daily 

participation rates. There are some inconsistencies between

the reported frequency of care and the actual provision of 

eldercare on an average day. For example, in 2015–16, only 

64 percent of eldercare providers who self-reported 

providing care "daily" actually provided eldercare on an 

average day. This discrepancy reflects some respondents’ 

choice of "daily" rather than "several times a week" or 

another option to best describe their eldercare frequency, 

even while acknowledging they had not provided care on the 

diary day.

ATUS publication standards

Estimates of average hours per day and participation 

rates are not published unless there are a minimum number 

of respondents representing the given population. Additional 

publication criteria are applied that include the number of 

respondents who reported doing a specified activity and the 

standard error or coefficient of variation for the estimate. 

Estimates that are considered "close to zero" or that round to 

0.00, are published as approximately zero. For a detailed 

description of the statistical reliability criteria necessary for

publication, please contact ATUS staff at 

ATUSinfo@bls.gov.
Table 1. Number and percent of the U.S. population who were eldercare providers by sex and selected characteristics, 

years 2015-16

[Numbers in thousands]

Characteristic

Total Men 

Civilian

noninstitutional

population

Eldercare providers Civilian

noninstitutional

population

Eldercare providers C

no

po

Number Percent of population Number Percent of population 

Age

Total, 15 years and over................................................. 256,387 41,324 16.1 123,882 18,142 14.6 1

15 to 24 years.......................................................... 42,723 4,876 11.4 21,557 2,365 11.0 25 to 34 years.......................................................... 43,161 3,590 8.3 21,291 1,626 7.6 35 to 44 years.......................................................... 39,759 4,790 12.0 19,521 2,032 10.4 45 to 54 years.......................................................... 42,520 9,086 21.4 20,788 4,236 20.4 55 to 64 years.......................................................... 40,953 9,961 24.3 19,673 4,265 21.7 65 years and over...................................................... 47,271 9,021 19.1 21,052 3,618 17.2 

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

1

White..................................................................... 206,678 34,718 16.8 101,077 15,088 14.9 1Black or African American............................................ 31,552 4,579 14.5 14,373 1,928 13.4 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity........................................... 41,114 3,837 9.3 20,514 1,652 8.1 

Employment status

Employed................................................................ 159,320 25,332 15.9 84,594 12,234 14.5 

Full-time workers.................................................... 123,608 18,488 15.0 71,574 9,851 13.8 Part-time workers.................................................... 35,712 6,844 19.2 13,020 2,383 18.3 

Not employed........................................................... 97,066 15,992 16.5 39,287 5,908 15.0 

Educational attainment, 25 years and over

Less than a high school diploma..................................... 22,621 2,306 10.2 11,749 1,179 10.0 High school graduates, no college................................... 62,197 10,261 16.5 30,244 4,811 15.9 Some college or associate degree................................... 52,667 9,892 18.8 23,721 3,630 15.3 Bachelor’s degree and higher........................................ 76,178 13,989 18.4 36,611 6,157 16.8 

Parent of household children under 18 years

Parent of one or more household children......................... 69,109 8,655 12.5 30,697 3,605 11.7 

Parent of household children age 6 to 17, none younger...... 37,429 5,827 15.6 16,718 2,443 14.6 Parent of a household child under age 6........................ 31,680 2,828 8.9 13,978 1,162 8.3 

Not a parent of a household child................................... 187,278 32,669 17.4 93,185 14,537 15.6 

Marital status

No spouse or unmarried partner present in household........... 112,450 15,277 13.6 52,261 6,534 12.5 Spouse or unmarried partner present in household............... 143,936 26,047 18.1 71,621 11,608 16.2 

1 Not all race categories are shown. Persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity may be of any race.NOTE: Eldercare providers are those who, in the previous 3 to 4 months, cared for someone with a condition related to aging. Estimates were calculated for perage 65 or older. Unless otherwise specified, data refer to persons 15 years and over.
Table 2. Eldercare providers by sex and selected characteristics related to care provided, averages for the combined ye

[Numbers in thousands]

Characteristic

Eldercare providers

Total Men 

Number Percent Number Percent 

Total, 15 years and over.................................................................... 41,324 100.0 18,142 100.0 

Parent of household children under 18 years

Parent of one or more household children.......................................... 8,655 20.9 3,605 19.9 

Parent of a household child age 6 to 17, none younger...................... 5,827 14.1 2,443 13.5 

Parent of a household child under age 6......................................... 2,828 6.8 1,162 6.4 

Not a parent of a household child..................................................... 32,669 79.1 14,537 80.1 

Number of care recipients

Caring for one person..................................................................... 29,376 71.1 12,722 70.1 

Caring for two persons.................................................................... 8,833 21.4 3,862 21.3 Caring for three or more persons...................................................... 3,114 7.5 1,558 8.6 

Relationship to care recipient

Total, all eldercare providers............................................................ 41,324

–

1 18,142

–

1 

Caring for a spouse or unmarried partner

2....................................... 3,109 7.5 984 5.4 

Caring for a parent...................................................................... 17,205 41.6 7,367 40.6 Caring for a grandparent

3............................................................. 6,881 16.7 3,031 16.7 

Caring for another related person................................................... 10,419 25.2 5,247 28.9 Caring for a friend or neighbor....................................................... 6,665 16.1 2,910 16.0 Caring for someone else.............................................................. 2,143 5.2 861 4.7 

Eldercare providers caring for one person only.................................... 29,376 100.0 12,722 100.0 

Caring for a spouse or unmarried partner

2....................................... 2,809 9.6 952 7.5 

Caring for a parent...................................................................... 11,494 39.1 4,771 37.5 Caring for a grandparent

3............................................................. 4,507 15.3 1,807 14.2 

Caring for another related person................................................... 5,966 20.3 3,169 24.9 Caring for a friend or neighbor....................................................... 3,610 12.3 1,621 12.7 Caring for someone else.............................................................. 991 3.4 402 3.2 

Age of care recipient

Total, all eldercare providers............................................................ 41,324

–

1 18,142

–

1 

Caring for someone age 65 to 69................................................... 5,767 14.0 2,859 15.8 

Caring for someone age 70 to 74................................................... 7,499 18.1 3,123 17.2 Caring for someone age 75 to 79................................................... 8,496 20.6 4,179 23.0 Caring for someone age 80 to 84................................................... 10,526 25.5 4,964 27.4 Caring for someone age 85 or older............................................... 16,176 39.1 6,466 35.6 

Eldercare providers caring for one person only.................................... 29,376 100.0 12,722 100.0 

Caring for someone age 65 to 69................................................... 3,295 11.2 1,557 12.2 

Caring for someone age 70 to 74................................................... 4,146 14.1 1,539 12.1 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 2. Eldercare providers by sex and selected characteristics related to care provided, averages for the combined ye

[Numbers in thousands]

Characteristic

Eldercare providers

Total Men 

Number Percent Number Percent 

Caring for someone age 75 to 79................................................... 4,912 16.7 2,459 19.3 

Caring for someone age 80 to 84................................................... 6,408 21.8 3,013 23.7 

Caring for someone age 85 or older............................................... 10,616 36.1 4,154 32.7 

Care of household or nonhousehold members

Provided eldercare to household member(s) only................................. 6,544 15.8 2,838 15.6 

Provided eldercare to nonhousehold member(s) only............................ 34,243 82.9 15,166 83.6 

Provided eldercare to both household and nonhousehold person(s)........ 536 1.3 138 0.8 

Frequency of care

4

Provided care daily......................................................................... 8,538 20.7 3,287 18.1 

Provided care several times a week.................................................. 10,264 24.8 4,564 25.2 Provided care once a week.............................................................. 6,777 16.4 3,010 16.6 

Provided care several times a month................................................. 8,574 20.7 4,178 23.0 

Provided care once a month............................................................ 5,267 12.7 2,392 13.2 

Other........................................................................................... 1,904 4.6 710 3.9 

Duration of care

5

Provided care for less than 1 year..................................................... 9,607 23.2 3,680 20.3 

Provided care for 1 to 2 years.......................................................... 10,267 24.8 4,482 24.7 

Provided care for 3 to 4 years.......................................................... 7,595 18.4 3,125 17.2 

Provided care for 5 to 9 years.......................................................... 8,122 19.7 3,937 21.7 

Provided care for 10 years or more................................................... 5,734 13.9 2,919 16.1 

1 Categories sum to more than 100 percent because some eldercare providers cared for more than one person.2 Care for a spouse or unmarried partner may be underreported. See the Technical Note for more information.3 Refers only to persons caring for a grandparent who did not live with them. Persons caring for a grandparent with whom they lived are includ

another related person.′′

4 Survey participants were asked how often they provided care in the past 3 to 4 months; this information was used to categorize them by freq5 For persons who provided eldercare to more than 1 person, the duration of care is calculated based on the person for whom they had cared 

NOTE: Eldercare providers are those who, in the previous 3 to 4 months, cared for someone with a condition related to aging. Estimates were for at least one person age 65 or older. Data refer to persons 15 years and over.
Table 3. Eldercare providers by relationship to care recipient and selected characteristics of eldercare providers, averag

2015-16

Characteristic

Number of

eldercare

providers (in

thousands)

Percent of eldercare providers car

A spouse or

unmarried

partner

2

A parent A grandparent

3 Another rel

person

Age

Total, 15 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41,324 7.5 41.6 16.7 25.2 

15 to 24 years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,876 –

4 2.0 74.9 16.9 

25 to 34 years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,590 –

4 26.1 50.1 21.8 

35 to 44 years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,790 0.3 48.7 23.1 24.0 45 to 54 years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,086 0.9 67.4 3.3 25.2 55 to 64 years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,961 4.2 60.2 0.2 29.0 

65 years and over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,021 28.8 18.9 –

4 27.6 

Sex

Men. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,142 5.4 40.6 16.7 28.9 Women. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,182 9.2 42.4 16.6 22.3 

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

5

White. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34,718 8.2 41.9 16.4 25.2 

Black or African American. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,579 3.9 40.6 17.6 26.5 

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,837 7.0 40.1 21.6 24.7 

Employment status

Employed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,332 2.6 48.8 17.5 26.7 

Full-time workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,488 1.6 53.4 14.3 28.0 Part-time workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,844 5.1 36.4 26.1 23.3 

Not employed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,992 15.4 30.3 15.4 22.8 

Educational attainment, 25 years and over

Less than a high school diploma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,306 13.2 35.8 6.1 26.1 

High school graduates, no college. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,261 11.0 44.6 9.1 28.4 Some college or associate degree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,892 8.7 46.5 10.1 25.0 Bachelor’s degree and higher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,989 5.8 50.8 8.3 25.8 

Parent of household children under 18 years

Parent of one or more household children. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,655 0.4 46.6 22.7 27.1 

Parent of a household child age 6 to 17, none younger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,827 0.5 55.6 13.1 27.2 Parent of a household child under age 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,828 0.4 28.2 42.5 27.0 

Not a parent of a household child. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,669 9.4 40.3 15.0 24.7 

Marital status

No spouse or unmarried partner present in household. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,277 1.5 37.3 30.5 16.6 Spouse or unmarried partner present in household. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,047 11.1 44.2 8.5 30.3 

1 Categories sum to more than 100 percent because some eldercare providers cared for multiple persons with whom they had different relationships.2 Care for a spouse or unmarried partner may be underreported. See the Technical Note for more information.3 Refers only to persons caring for a grandparent who did not live with them. Persons caring for a grandparent with whom they lived are included in the category ′′Another related perso4 Estimate is approximately zero.5 Not all race categories are shown. Persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity may be of any race.NOTE: Eldercare providers are those who, in the previous 3 to 4 months, cared for someone with a condition related to aging. Estimates were calculated for persons who cared for at lotherwise specified, data refer to persons 15 years and over.
Table 4. Percent of eldercare providers who provided care on an average day and time spent providing this care by day 

characteristics, averages for the combined years 2015-16

Characteristic

Number of

eldercare

providers

(in

thousands)

Percent of eldercare providers who

provided care on an average day

Average hours per day eldercare

providers spent providing care

Total, all

days Weekdays

Weekends

and

holidays

Total, all

days Weekdays

Weekends

and

holidays

Age

Total, 15 years and over................................... 41,324 25.7 25.6 25.9 0.73 0.71 0.78 

15 to 24 years.............................................. 4,876 13.1 14.5 9.0 0.19 0.19 0.19 25 to 34 years.............................................. 3,590 18.5 17.2 21.5 0.37 –

1 0.58 

35 to 44 years.............................................. 4,790 22.5 22.3 23.0 0.54 0.51 0.61 45 to 54 years.............................................. 9,086 22.2 22.0 22.5 0.54 0.50 0.64 55 to 64 years.............................................. 9,961 28.3 26.6 32.2 0.82 0.80 0.85 65 years and over......................................... 9,021 37.9 39.5 33.9 1.36 1.37 1.31 

Sex

Men.............................................................. 18,142 23.0 22.7 23.9 0.64 0.63 0.67 Women.......................................................... 23,182 27.8 28.0 27.5 0.80 0.77 0.87 

Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

2

White............................................................ 34,718 25.9 25.5 26.9 0.72 0.69 0.79 Black or African American................................. 4,579 23.7 24.5 21.9 0.80 0.79 0.81 Hispanic or Latino ethnicity................................ 3,837 37.4 37.4 37.3 1.16 1.07 1.39 

Employment status

Employed....................................................... 25,332 20.1 18.9 22.9 0.40 0.34 0.55 

Full-time workers.......................................... 18,488 19.2 17.8 22.4 0.39 0.32 0.54 Part-time workers......................................... 6,844 22.5 21.8 24.4 0.44 0.38 0.58 

Not employed................................................. 15,992 34.7 36.3 30.7 1.25 1.29 1.16 

Educational attainment, 25 years and over

Less than a high school diploma........................ 2,306 35.1 –

1

–

1 1.24 1.05 1.63 

High school graduates, no college...................... 10,261 32.1 31.6 33.4 0.96 0.95 0.99 Some college or associate degree...................... 9,892 28.6 30.0 25.4 0.76 0.77 0.75 Bachelor’s degree and higher............................ 13,989 21.8 21.2 23.3 0.64 0.62 0.69 

Parent of household children under 18 years

Parent of one or more household children............ 8,655 18.4 18.0 19.0 0.41 0.37 0.49 

Parent of a household child age 6 to 17, none

younger................................................... 5,827 20.0 21.2 17.2 0.45 0.50 0.36 

Parent of a household child under age 6........... 2,828 15.0 11.3 22.6 0.32 0.12 0.73 

Not a parent of a household child....................... 32,669 27.7 27.5 27.9 0.81 0.79 0.87 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 4. Percent of eldercare providers who provided care on an average day and time spent providing this care by day 

characteristics, averages for the combined years 2015-16

— Continued

Characteristic

Number of

eldercare

providers

(in

thousands)

Percent of eldercare providers who

provided care on an average day

Average hours per day eldercare

providers spent providing care

Total, all

days Weekdays

Weekends

and

holidays

Total, all

days Weekdays

Weekends

and

holidays

Marital status

No spouse or unmarried partner present in

household................................................... 15,277 27.1 27.2 26.9 0.67 0.64 0.75 

Spouse or unmarried partner present in

household................................................... 26,047 24.9 24.7 25.4 0.77 0.75 0.81 

Number of care recipients

Caring for one person....................................... 29,376 27.1 26.6 28.3 0.83 0.80 0.90 Caring for two persons..................................... 8,833 23.5 24.6 21.0 0.54 0.53 0.54 Caring for three or more persons........................ 3,114 18.8 19.5 17.2 0.37 0.36 –

1 

Relationship to care recipient

3

Eldercare providers caring for one person only...... 29,376 27.1 26.6 28.3 0.83 0.80 0.90 

Caring for a spouse or unmarried partner

4........ 2,809 65.6 –

1

–

1 2.78 2.72 2.91 

Caring for a parent........................................ 11,494 29.3 28.7 30.6 0.82 0.79 0.89 Caring for a grandparent

5............................... 4,507 12.6 12.9 12.1 0.28 0.23 –

1 

Caring for another related person.................... 5,966 23.9 22.1 29.2 0.76 0.76 0.74 Caring for a friend or neighbor........................ 3,610 14.4 14.5 14.2 0.26 0.20 –

1 

Age of care recipient

Eldercare providers caring for one person only...... 29,376 27.1 26.6 28.3 0.83 0.80 0.90 

Caring for someone age 65 to 69.................... 3,295 25.6 25.9 24.9 0.59 0.59 –

1 

Caring for someone age 70 to 74.................... 4,146 22.2 23.1 20.0 0.68 0.72 0.57 Caring for someone age 75 to 79.................... 4,912 23.8 21.4 29.6 0.72 0.61 0.96 Caring for someone age 80 to 84.................... 6,408 32.8 31.0 37.3 0.98 0.80 1.42 Caring for someone age 85 or older................. 10,616 27.5 28.0 26.5 0.92 0.99 0.76 

Care of household or nonhousehold members

3

Provided eldercare to household member(s) only... 6,544 64.1 61.3 71.7 2.15 2.01 2.54 Provided eldercare to nonhousehold member(s)

only............................................................ 34,243 17.8 17.8 17.6 0.44 0.44 0.46 

Frequency of care

6

Provided care daily.......................................... 8,538 64.2 64.8 62.7 2.25 2.24 2.27 Provided care several times a week.................... 10,264 26.8 27.0 26.2 0.61 0.59 0.65 Provided care once a week............................... 6,777 11.8 11.0 13.5 0.17 0.12 0.27 Provided care several times a month................... 8,574 12.8 12.4 13.9 0.23 0.18 0.37 Provided care once a month.............................. 5,267 6.4 6.0 7.6 0.15 0.14 0.20 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 4. Percent of eldercare providers who provided care on an average day and time spent providing this care by day 

characteristics, averages for the combined years 2015-16

— Continued

Characteristic

Number of

eldercare

providers

(in

thousands)

Percent of eldercare providers who

provided care on an average day

Average hours per day eldercare

providers spent providing care

Total, all

days Weekdays

Weekends

and

holidays

Total, all

days Weekdays

Weekends

and

holidays

Duration of care

7

Provided care for less than 1 year...................... 9,607 18.1 18.8 16.4 0.45 0.43 0.50 Provided care for 1 to 2 years............................ 10,267 24.6 23.5 27.3 0.75 0.69 0.90 Provided care for 3 to 4 years............................ 7,595 30.1 29.9 30.7 0.78 0.67 1.05 Provided care for 5 to 9 years............................ 8,122 31.3 32.7 28.2 1.05 1.19 0.73 Provided care for 10 years or more..................... 5,734 26.8 25.2 31.0 0.65 0.58 0.84 

1 Estimate is suppressed because it does not meet the American Time Use Survey publication standards.2 Not all race categories are shown. Persons of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity may be of any race.3 Not all categories are shown.4 Care for a spouse or unmarried partner may be underreported. See the Technical Note for more information.5 Refers only to persons caring for a grandparent who did not live with them. Persons caring for a grandparent with whom they lived are includ

another related person.′′

6 Survey participants were asked how often they provided care in the past 3 to 4 months; this information was used to categorize them by freq

and percent estimates were measured using information about care provided on the diary day. Not all categories are shown.

7 For persons who provided eldercare to more than one person, the duration of care is calculated based on the person for whom they had care

NOTE: Eldercare providers are those who, in the previous 3 to 4 months, cared for someone with a condition related to aging. Estimates were for at least one person age 65 or older. Unless otherwise specified, data refer to persons 15 years and over.
Table 5. Time spent providing eldercare and percent of eldercare providers engaging in caregiving by sex and caregivin

combined years 2015-16

Caregiving activity

Eldercare providers

Percent distribution of time spent in

selected eldercare activities On days they prov

Total Men Women

Percent who engaged in

caregiving activity

1 

Total Men Women 

Total, activities reported as care done for those age 65 and

over...................................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 –

1

–

1

–

1 

Eating and drinking.................................................... 6.8 8.3 5.8 22.5 25.5 20.6 

Household activities.................................................... 19.2 18.9 19.4 37.2 34.2 39.1 

Housework........................................................... 5.5 4.0 6.4 13.2 9.5 15.6 Food preparation and cleanup..................................... 8.6 7.0 9.6 27.4 23.7 29.7 

Lawn and garden care.............................................. 1.7 3.4 0.6 2.8 5.2 1.3 

Household management............................................ 1.6 0.8 2.0 4.9 4.0 5.4 

Purchasing goods and services...................................... 2.9 2.4 3.2 11.2 10.0 12.0 Caring for and helping household members........................ 10.0 8.6 10.8 19.9 14.5 23.4 

Caring for household adults........................................ 9.1 7.4 10.1 17.5 11.7 21.2 

Physical care for household adults............................. 6.3 5.9 6.6 12.7 9.4 14.9 

Providing medical care to household adults................... 1.2 0.3 1.7 7.2 2.4 10.2 

Helping household adults........................................... 0.3 –

3 0.4 1.9 1.6 2.1 

Caring for and helping nonhousehold members................... 12.6 10.4 13.9 25.0 22.0 26.9 

Caring for nonhousehold adults................................... 5.5 3.4 6.9 10.7 9.4 11.6 

Physical care for nonhousehold adults........................ 1.4 1.8 1.2 5.4 5.6 5.3 

Providing medical care to nonhousehold adults.............. 0.5 0.5 0.4 3.1 2.8 3.2 

Helping nonhousehold adults...................................... 6.7 6.8 6.6 18.2 16.0 19.6 

Housework, cooking, and shopping assistance for

nonhousehold adults........................................... 2.3 1.2 3.0 6.5 4.0 8.0 

House and lawn maintenance and repair assistance for

nonhousehold adults........................................... 1.1 2.2 0.5 2.0 3.0 1.4 

Picking up and dropping off nonhousehold adults............ 0.3 0.2 0.4 5.5 3.9 6.6 

Working and work-related activities.................................. 1.8 0.8 2.5 1.9 1.1 2.4 

Organizational, civic, and religious activities....................... 2.0 1.8 2.1 3.2 3.2 3.2 Leisure and sports..................................................... 36.5 39.6 34.5 37.0 39.0 35.7 

Socializing and communicating.................................... 14.4 13.7 14.9 23.6 23.6 23.7 Watching TV......................................................... 15.9 18.8 14.1 12.5 13.5 11.8 Participating in sports, exercise, and recreation................. 0.4 0.6 0.3 1.7 1.2 2.1 

Telephone calls, mail, and e-mail.................................... 0.9 1.0 0.8 5.3 5.9 5.0 Traveling................................................................ 5.9 6.1 5.8 21.6 20.0 22.5 

Other activities, not elsewhere classified........................... 1.6 2.0 1.3 3.1 2.0 3.8 

1 Percents sum to more than 100 percent because some eldercare providers did more than one care activity on days they provided care.2 Estimate is suppressed because it does not meet the American Time Use Survey publication standards.3 Estimate is approximately zero.NOTE: Eldercare providers are those who, in the previous 3 to 4 months, cared for someone with a condition related to aging. Estimates were calculated for perage 65 or older. Data refer to persons 15 years and over.
Table 6. Time spent providing eldercare and percent of eldercare providers engaging in caregiving by day of week and 

for the combined years 2015-16

Caregiving activity

Eldercare providers

Percent distribution of time spent in

selected eldercare activities On days they prov

Total Weekdays Weekends and holidays

Percent who engaged in

caregiving activity

1 

Total Weekdays Weekends and holidays 

Total, activities reported as care done for those age 65 and

over...................................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 –

1

–

1

–

1 

Eating and drinking.................................................... 6.8 6.7 6.9 22.5 23.2 20.9 

Household activities.................................................... 19.2 18.8 19.9 37.2 36.8 38.2 

Housework........................................................... 5.5 5.3 5.9 13.2 14.5 10.2 

Food preparation and cleanup..................................... 8.6 8.3 9.4 27.4 27.4 27.2 

Lawn and garden care.............................................. 1.7 1.9 1.2 2.8 3.1 2.1 

Household management............................................ 1.6 1.9 1.0 4.9 5.0 4.4 

Purchasing goods and services...................................... 2.9 3.1 2.4 11.2 11.9 9.6 Caring for and helping household members........................ 10.0 10.7 8.4 19.9 19.8 20.2 

Caring for household adults........................................ 9.1 9.8 7.4 17.5 17.8 16.8 

Physical care for household adults............................. 6.3 6.5 6.0 12.7 12.6 13.0 Providing medical care to household adults................... 1.2 1.2 1.0 7.2 6.1 9.7 

Helping household adults........................................... 0.3 0.3 0.2 1.9 1.6 2.5 

Caring for and helping nonhousehold members................... 12.6 12.5 12.7 25.0 23.7 27.9 

Caring for nonhousehold adults................................... 5.5 6.9 2.7 10.7 11.3 9.4 

Physical care for nonhousehold adults........................ 1.4 1.3 1.7 5.4 5.1 6.2 

Providing medical care to nonhousehold adults.............. 0.5 0.4 0.6 3.1 2.9 3.3 

Helping nonhousehold adults...................................... 6.7 5.5 9.2 18.2 17.0 21.0 

Housework, cooking, and shopping assistance for

nonhousehold adults........................................... 2.3 1.8 3.3 6.5 6.0 7.6 

House and lawn maintenance and repair assistance for

nonhousehold adults........................................... 1.1 1.1 1.3 2.0 1.7 2.6 

Picking up and dropping off nonhousehold adults............ 0.3 0.3 0.4 5.5 5.1 6.4 

Working and work-related activities.................................. 1.8 2.2 0.9 1.9 2.2 1.1 

Organizational, civic, and religious activities....................... 2.0 1.2 3.6 3.2 2.6 4.6 Leisure and sports..................................................... 36.5 36.0 37.5 37.0 36.3 38.7 

Socializing and communicating.................................... 14.4 13.1 17.3 23.6 22.1 27.2 Watching TV......................................................... 15.9 16.5 14.7 12.5 12.8 11.7 Participating in sports, exercise, and recreation................. 0.4 0.5 0.3 1.7 2.0 1.0 

Telephone calls, mail, and e-mail.................................... 0.9 1.1 0.4 5.3 6.5 2.6 Traveling................................................................ 5.9 6.4 4.9 21.6 21.7 21.2 

Other activities, not elsewhere classified........................... 1.6 1.2 2.4 3.1 2.4 4.8 

1 Percents sum to more than 100 percent because some eldercare providers did more than one care activity on days they provided care.2 Estimate is suppressed because it does not meet the American Time Use Survey publication standards.NOTE: Eldercare providers are those who, in the previous 3 to 4 months, cared for someone with a condition related to aging. Estimates were calculated for perage 65 or older. Data refer to persons 15 years and over.
Table 7. Percent of eldercare providers and time spent in caregiving on days they provided care by frequency of care a

averages for the combined years 2015-16

Caregiving activity

Percent of eldercare providers who engaged in caregiving

activities, on days they provided care

1

Average hours per da

care on day

Total

Frequency of care

2

Total

Daily Several times per week Once a week or less Da

Total, activities reported as care done for those age 65 and over........ –

1

–

1

–

1

–

1 2.84 3

Eating and drinking........................................................... 22.5 30.1 12.7 15.0 0.19 0

Household activities.......................................................... 37.2 55.4 18.0 16.3 0.54 0

Housework.................................................................. 13.2 21.4 6.5 1.7 0.16 0

Food preparation and cleanup............................................ 27.4 44.9 9.6 6.6 0.24 0

Lawn and garden care..................................................... 2.8 3.9 0.9 1.9 0.05 –

3

Household management.................................................. 4.9 5.2 4.9 3.3 0.04 0

Purchasing goods and services............................................. 11.2 10.6 14.3 8.6 0.08 0Caring for and helping household members.............................. 19.9 35.1 1.6 6.1 0.28 0

Caring for household adults............................................... 17.5 32.1 0.7 3.5 0.26 0

Physical care for household adults.................................... 12.7 23.2 –

4 3.5 0.18 0

Providing medical care to household adults......................... 7.2 13.9 –

4

–

4 0.03 0

Helping household adults................................................. 1.9 3.0 0.3 0.4 0.01 0

Caring for and helping nonhousehold members.......................... 25.0 15.9 34.9 31.9 0.36 0

Caring for nonhousehold adults.......................................... 10.7 9.2 14.0 9.2 0.16 0

Physical care for nonhousehold adults............................... 5.4 4.4 7.7 4.6 0.04 0

Providing medical care to nonhousehold adults..................... 3.1 4.0 1.4 1.7 0.01 0

Helping nonhousehold adults............................................. 18.2 10.9 26.2 24.5 0.19 0

Housework, cooking, and shopping assistance for nonhousehold

adults................................................................... 6.5 4.1 13.0 4.2 0.07 0

House and lawn maintenance and repair assistance for

nonhousehold adults.................................................. 2.0 1.3 1.7 3.0 0.03 –

3

Picking up and dropping off nonhousehold adults.................. 5.5 3.8 7.2 7.8 0.01 –

4 

Working and work-related activities........................................ 1.9 1.3 4.2 0.3 0.05 –

3 

Organizational, civic, and religious activities.............................. 3.2 3.0 1.5 5.2 0.06 0

Leisure and sports............................................................ 37.0 37.6 37.5 34.5 1.03 1

Socializing and communicating........................................... 23.6 18.0 32.8 25.0 0.41 0Watching TV................................................................ 12.5 20.3 3.3 4.6 0.45 0

Participating in sports, exercise, and recreation....................... 1.7 2.4 0.4 1.2 0.01 –

3

Telephone calls, mail, and e-mail........................................... 5.3 6.9 3.6 3.3 0.03 0Traveling....................................................................... 21.6 19.3 27.7 18.8 0.17 0Other activities, not elsewhere classified.................................. 3.1 5.0 0.5 1.8 0.05 0

1 Percents sum to more than 100 percent because some eldercare providers did more than one care activity on days they provided care.

2 Survey participants were asked how often they provided care in the past 3 to 4 months; this information was used to categorize them by frequency of care.3 Estimate is suppressed because it does not meet the American Time Use Survey publication standards.4 Estimate is approximately zero.NOTE: Eldercare providers are those who, in the previous 3 to 4 months, cared for someone with a condition related to aging. Estimates were calculated for perage 65 or older. Data refer to persons 15 years and over.
Table 8. Percent of eldercare providers who cared for one person only by age of eldercare recipient and caregiving acti

combined years 2015-16

Caregiving activity

Percent of eldercare providers who c

on days they provid

Total Age o

65 to 74 

Total, activities reported as care done for those age 65 and over........................................ –

1

–

1

Eating and drinking.................................................................................................. 23.9 21.0 Household activities................................................................................................. 39.5

–

2 

Housework.......................................................................................................... 14.7

–

2 

Food preparation and cleanup................................................................................ 29.8

–

2 

Lawn and garden care.......................................................................................... 3.0 3.1 Household management........................................................................................ 4.8 3.2 

Purchasing goods and services.................................................................................. 9.7 11.4 

Caring for and helping household members................................................................. 23.5 21.6 

Caring for household adults.................................................................................... 20.7 19.8 

Physical care for household adults....................................................................... 15.4 14.8 

Providing medical care to household adults............................................................ 8.6 9.9 

Helping household adults....................................................................................... 2.2 2.4 

Caring for and helping nonhousehold members............................................................ 22.0 14.6 

Caring for nonhousehold adults............................................................................... 10.1 8.0 

Physical care for nonhousehold adults.................................................................. 5.5 3.0 

Providing medical care to nonhousehold adults....................................................... 2.2 1.2 

Helping nonhousehold adults.................................................................................. 14.2 9.2 

Housework, cooking, and shopping assistance for nonhousehold adults...................... 5.0 3.2 House and lawn maintenance and repair assistance for nonhousehold adults............... 1.7 0.4 Picking up and dropping off nonhousehold adults.................................................... 4.4 4.7 

Working and work-related activities............................................................................. 1.5 1.3 Organizational, civic, and religious activities................................................................. 2.7 3.0 Leisure and sports................................................................................................... 38.7

–

2 

Socializing and communicating............................................................................... 23.1 20.5 

Watching TV....................................................................................................... 15.7 14.6 Participating in sports, exercise, and recreation.......................................................... 2.1 2.6 

Telephone calls, mail, and e-mail............................................................................... 6.0 4.7 

Traveling............................................................................................................... 19.5 23.5 Other activities, not elsewhere classified...................................................................... 3.5 1.3 

1 Percents sum to more than 100 percent because some eldercare providers did more than one care activity on days they provided care.2 Estimate is suppressed because it does not meet the American Time Use Survey publication standards.

NOTE: Eldercare providers are those who, in the previous 3 to 4 months, cared for someone with a condition related to aging. Estimates were for at least one person age 65 or older. Data refer to persons 15 years and over.
Table 9. Number and percent of eldercare providers who were parents of household children under age 18 by sex and s

averages for the combined years 2015-16

[Numbers in thousands]

Characteristic

Eldercare providers with children under age 1

Total Men 

Number Percent Number Percent 

Parent of household children under 18 years

Total, parent of one or more household children.................................. 8,655 100.0 3,605 100.0 

Parent of a household child age 6 to 17, none younger...................... 5,827 67.3 2,443 67.8 

Parent of a household child under age 6......................................... 2,828 32.7 1,162 32.2 

Employment status

Employed..................................................................................... 7,022 81.1 3,302 91.6 

Full-time workers........................................................................ 5,522 63.8 3,115 86.4 

Part-time workers........................................................................ 1,500 17.3 187 5.2 

Not employed................................................................................ 1,633 18.9 303 8.4 

Marital status

No spouse or unmarried partner present in household.......................... 1,471 17.0 318 8.8 

Spouse or unmarried partner present in household.............................. 7,184 83.0 3,287 91.2 

Number of care recipients

Caring for one person..................................................................... 5,703 65.9 2,172 60.3 

Caring for two persons.................................................................... 2,257 26.1 1,068 29.6 

Caring for three or more persons...................................................... 694 8.0 365 10.1 

Relationship to care recipient

Total, all eldercare providers............................................................ 8,655

–

1 3,605

–

1 

Caring for a spouse or unmarried partner

2....................................... 39 0.4 6 0.2 

Caring for a parent...................................................................... 4,035 46.6 1,674 46.4 

Caring for a grandparent

3............................................................. 1,967 22.7 723 20.1 

Caring for another related person................................................... 2,346 27.1 1,279 35.5 Caring for a friend or neighbor....................................................... 1,056 12.2 395 11.0 Caring for someone else.............................................................. 416 4.8 104 2.9 

Age of care recipient

Total, all eldercare providers............................................................ 8,655

–

1 3,605

–

1 

Caring for someone age 65 to 69................................................... 1,766 20.4 905 25.1 Caring for someone age 70 to 74................................................... 2,030 23.5 778 21.6 

Caring for someone age 75 to 79................................................... 2,243 25.9 1,038 28.8 

Caring for someone age 80 to 84................................................... 1,905 22.0 846 23.5 

Caring for someone age 85 or older............................................... 2,446 28.3 896 24.8 

Care of household or nonhousehold members

4

Provided eldercare to household member(s) only................................. 684 7.9 200 5.6 

See footnotes at end of table.
Table 9. Number and percent of eldercare providers who were parents of household children under age 18 by sex and s

averages for the combined years 2015-16 — Continued

[Numbers in thousands]

Characteristic

Eldercare providers with children under age 1

Total Men 

Number Percent Number Percent 

Provided eldercare to nonhousehold member(s) only............................ 7,936 91.7 3,383 93.9 

Frequency of care

5

Provided care daily......................................................................... 1,169 13.5 358 9.9 

Provided care several times a week.................................................. 2,224 25.7 882 24.5 

Provided care once a week.............................................................. 1,712 19.8 761 21.1 

Provided care several times a month................................................. 1,719 19.9 838 23.3 

Provided care once a month............................................................ 1,430 16.5 603 16.7 

Other........................................................................................... 401 4.6 162 4.5 

Duration of care

6

Provided care for less than 1 year..................................................... 2,172 25.1 772 21.4 Provided care for 1 to 2 years.......................................................... 2,020 23.3 731 20.3 Provided care for 3 to 4 years.......................................................... 1,662 19.2 713 19.8 

Provided care for 5 to 9 years.......................................................... 1,650 19.1 855 23.7 

Provided care for 10 years or more................................................... 1,150 13.3 534 14.8 

1 Categories sum to more than 100 percent because some eldercare providers cared for more than one person.2 Care for a spouse or unmarried partner may be underreported. See the Technical Note for more information.3 Refers only to persons caring for a grandparent who did not live with them. Persons caring for a grandparent with whom they lived are includ

another related person.′′

4 Not all categories are shown.5 Survey participants were asked how often they provided care in the past 3 to 4 months; this information was used to categorize them by freq6 For persons who provided eldercare to more than 1 person, the duration of care is calculated based on the person for whom they had cared 

NOTE: Eldercare providers are those who, in the previous 3 to 4 months, cared for someone with a condition related to aging. Estimates were for at least one person age 65 or older. Data refer to persons 15 years and over.