Abstract
Family care (care for dependent persons at home by family members and friends) is widely endorsed, politically and personally, as the chronic care option that is superior to institutionally-based, formal care services. Politicians, health planners, and analysts may be especially supportive of a preferred form of care which is also believed to be economical. But the full costs of family care, including the value of the unpaid work of caregivers, are rarely acknowledged. This article reviews studies of caregiving and its costs and acknowledges the gender bias inherent in caregiving which has been regarded as free before its costs were calculated. Policy and health care practice will benefit from examination of both the costs and benefits of family care.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 77-87 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Lifestyles Family and Economic Issues |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Caregiving
- Cost
- Elder Care
- Unpaid Work
- Womens' Work
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences(all)
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)