Men Assuming the Caregiving Role

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Alzheimer's Association, men now make up 40% of family care providers. This number is up 19 percent from a similar study in 1996. Men have become more of a "hands on" style of caregiver in the past 10 years, straying from their roles of just taking care of financial records, arranging parent's schedules, etc. In some cases they are now the primary source for personal hygeine (including changing of incontinence supplies and bathing), meals, medications and other tasks that have in the past been left to a female relative such as a sister or wife. Why the change? Several factors such as more women being full time workers, smaller family and support roles and the rising costs off healthcare all have contributed.