Parent caregivers: a comparison of employed and not employed daughters

A major task for social workers is sorting out the kinds of assistance needed by families who care for an elderly parent. In particular, information is needed about the differential effects of employment on daughters who care for their elderly parent. This study describes parental caregiving among three groups: daughters who were employed, daughters who were never employed while caregivers, and daughters who ended their employment to continue caregiving. The effects of caregiving on these three groups, as well as the daughters' involvement with care tasks and use of formal and informal assistance, are examined.