Are Male Caregivers Reaching Out More Than Females?

Stereotypical gender roles may be reversing. In fact, USA Today reports that compared to just 15 years ago, women used to take on the job of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's, dementia or another ailment in the home. However, these days, that just might not be the case.

According to recent statistics, men now make up to 40 percent of caregivers in the United States, a stark contrast to the 19 percent reported 15 years ago by the Alzheimer's Association and the National Alliance for Caregiving.

Researchers believe the increase may be due to the fact that diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia are much more common in women over the age of 65 than in men the same age. Studies show that more than 3.9 million women have been diagnosed with the disease compared to only 1.8 million men in the same age range.

However, some researchers believe that this increase may be based on other problems, including the changing economy, increasing layoffs and other problems stemming from the crumbling job market in the United States. USA Today also reports that long life expectancies based on advances in medicine and technology could be a reason for the changes, as well.

However, other organizations note contradicting information regarding overall caregiver information. For instance, the Family Caregiver Alliance states the following regarding men and caregiving: "Male caregivers are less likely to provide personal care, but 24 percent helped a loved one get dressed compared to 28 percent of female caregivers. Sixteen percent of male caregivers help with bathing versus 30 percent of females. Forty percent of male caregivers use paid assistance for a loved one's personal care. Approximately 14.5 million caregivers are men out of the 43.4 percent who care for an older family member." The statistics provided are from Novebmer 2012. 

What do you think?