New myths about ageing: The growth of medical knowledge and its societal consequences

Caregiving is fast becoming a normative experience. With population ageing comes an increasing demand for care and a shrinking pool of potential family care providers. Negative consequences include economic costs, such as those arising from care-related employment accommodations, out-of-pocket expenses and direct labor costs, and non-economic costs such as those related to physical, mental and social health and well-being. Eldercare providers were almost 13 times more likely to participate in housekeeping or personal care tasks. Oldest caregivers on limited fixed incomes are less likely to have the financial wherewithal to incur such added expenses. Spouse caregivers spent more time on care tasks than those caring for non-kin, especially among eldercare providers. Same-generation caregiving appears to have a bigger impact on caregivers than cross-generation caregiving. Age did not predict time spent on care, but it did predict some consequences, especially health consequences.