Patterns of caregiving and work: evidence from two surveys

A substantial portion of the adult population in the United States needs help caring for themselves. Of the 50.9 million older Americans in 2017, about 6.5 million were age 85 and older.1 In addition, in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5 million people in the United States were affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.2 Statistics from around this same time indicate that over 70 million Americans had some physical functional limitation.3 Moreover, substantial overlap exists between the population who is age 65 and over and the population who lives with a disability. The CDC reports 40 percent of adults in the United States age 65 and over have a disability.4 Chronic illness is common among those age 65 and over.