In many cases, the elderly are themselves the caregivers, whether they are caring for a spouse, a sibling, a child or a grandchild. The report also found that in many developed countries in the West, older women are much more likely to live alone than are older men, partly because they are more likely to be widowed than are men. Spouse provides primary care. For many older people, their spouse provides their primary care. This occurs in both developed and developing nations, for both men and women.
Family feel the squeeze.
Burden shifts from developed to developing countries. Developed countries are currently home to the majority of those age 80 and older, or about 36 million people. By 2015, however, the balance will switch, with the majority of those 80-plus residing in developing countries, projected to be about 63 million people. Developed nations favor institutional caregiving. Institutionalization of the elderly ranges from 1 percent to 10 percent in developed nations, but is less than 1 percent in most developing nations.