The Intersection of Family Caregiving and Work: Labor Force Participation, Productivity, and Caregiver Well-Being

Abstract

Half of the estimated 18 million family caregivers of older adults in the United States worked either part or full time (Schulz & Eden, 2016). The effects of combining work and caregiving on caregivers, their disabled relatives, and business and industry have emerged as an important research topic in the last two decades. The goal of this chapter is to address key issues in the literature on caregiving and employment, including the reciprocal effects of work on caregiving and vice versa, the extent to which work moderates the caregiving experience, and the economic impacts of caregiving on caregivers and employers. We conclude with recommendations for policy and research.