More than seven million people are informal caregivers family members or friends who care for loved ones who are ill or have disabilities and live at home. There are wide variations in the conditions of those who are receiving help, the kinds of assistance needed, the level of caregiver burden, and the self-perceptions of caregivers.
Caregivers come from all ethnic and racial backgrounds.
Asian American, African American, and Hispanic American households tend to be more involved in caregiving than the general population. In addition, the proportion of minority family members involved in caregiving is higher than those in non-minority families, particularly among adult children. The National Academy on an Aging Society found that adult children account for the largest proportion of caregivers. Working to Meet the Needs of Diverse Families Diversity presents caregivers and the aging network with unique challenges. For example, due to differences in language and cultural beliefs and discrimination, minority families often have difficulty in or are reluctant to access information and services to which they are entitled.