2017–18 Unpaid Eldercare in the United States – Data from the American Time Use Survey — 2019-11-22

Sixteen percent of the civilian noninstitutional population age 15 and over or 40.4 million people provide unpaid eldercare, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. About one-fourth (26 percent) of eldercare providers engage in unpaid eldercare on a given day, spending an average of 3.4 hours providing this care. These estimates are averages for the 2-year period of 2017-18. Eldercare providers are defined as individuals who provide unpaid care to someone age 65 or older who needs help because of a condition related to aging. This care can be provided to household or nonhousehold members, as well as persons living in retirement homes or assisted care facilities. Eldercare can involve a range of care activities, such as assisting with grooming, preparing meals, and providing transportation.