MILLENNIALS: THE EMERGING GENERATION OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Abstract

Executive Summary About one in four family caregivers is a Millennial, and this generation is changing how we answer the question, "Who is a family caregiver?" This Spotlight offers a closer look into the background, experiences, and challenges involved with being a Millennial family caregiver, including: • Multicultural Identities: More than half of Millennial family caregivers are African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, or Asian American/Pacific Islanders. • Tasks and Time: Millennial family caregivers help with complex functional and medical/ nursing tasks at a rate similar to those of other generations, and on average provide more than 20 hours per week in care. • Mental Health Caregiving: One in three Millennial family caregivers supports someone with a mental health or emotional problem. • Employment and Income: Almost three in four Millennial family caregivers are employed, and they are more likely than other generations of caregivers to be working. One in three employed Millennial family caregivers earns less than $30,000 per year. Taking all of these factors together, it is clear that Millennials in the caregiving role have a unique experience that will influence and shift how we discuss and support family caregivers.