Women Provide More Lifetime Elder Care Than Men

A new University of Michigan study reveals women now provide seven years of care compared to four years for men.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Eldercare

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a pair of comfortable walking shoes and a wooden walking cane, symbolizing long-term caregiving responsibilities. — A University of Michigan study reports that women provide an average of seven years of lifetime elder care, compared to four years for men. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe society relies too heavily on women to provide unpaid elder care?

University of Michigan researchers found that women provide an average of seven years of lifetime elder care, a notable increase from six years in 2011. In contrast, the average lifetime care provided by men has remained steady at four years.

Why it matters

The study highlights a widening disparity in unpaid labor as the population of aging adults grows, suggesting a rising need for care solutions outside of traditional family support networks.

Researchers analyzed 8,500 responses to the National Study of Caregiving to estimate lifetime care commitments. The data shows that the total number of family caregivers for U.S. adults ages 65 and older increased from 18 million in 2011 to 24 million.

The players

University of Michigan

This public research university conducted the study on elder caregiving disparities.

The details

Researchers combined survey data with federal population statistics to determine lifetime estimates, noting that women provide more than one additional year of care for parents than men. Both genders provide an average of 1.5 years of care for a spouse or partner, a figure that remains consistent across the study.

In 2011, women provided six years of lifetime elder care.
In 2011, 18 million caregivers assisted adults aged 65 plus.
The data points for the caregiving disparity study were finalized in 2023.
Results were published in the Journals of Gerontology on October 21, 2026.

Culture Shift

The findings underscore a shift in societal caregiving expectations as the U.S. caregiver pool grows from 18 million in 2011 to 24 million today. This evolution marks a departure from historical caregiving models, placing an increasing reliance on individual family members to support an aging demographic.

Readers should account for potential caregiving responsibilities when planning their long-term financial and personal schedules. As the gap in caregiving years grows, individuals may need to consider proactive strategies for elder support that go beyond reliance on immediate family members.

The takeaway

Recognizing the disparity in caregiving time can help families have earlier, more equitable conversations about elder support plans. Proactive planning for external care services can alleviate the significant time commitments disproportionately shouldered by individual family members.