Children Assist in Care of Alzheimer's Patients, According to New Study

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) released a study last week showing that among so-called "sandwich caregivers" (those who are caring for an elderly relative while also parenting children under 21,) most had children who assisted them in providing care, including attending doctors’ appointments, feeding, and dressing their loved ones. In this third annual study conducted by AFA, 559 caregivers were interviewed in December 2007. From the press release:

Among children, ages 8-21, who are involved in caregiving, many are reported as taking on significant tasks:

• About one-third of young adults (ages 18-21) assist with doctors’ appointments;


• 42% of young adults assist with transporting loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease;


• About one-quarter of young adults and teens (ages 13-17) assist with activities of daily living, such as feeding and dressing;


• Nearly 90% of pre-teens (ages 8-12) visit and entertain a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease (please use caution when interpreting results due to small base size)


• Approximately 85% of teens pay visits to the person with the disease.

“Taking care of someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be an enormous drain on the caregiver and on family resources. For sandwich caregivers the problem is even more acute. It is clear that caregiving is a multigenerational concern. Young adults and even teens and pre-teens are being impacted in life changing ways by their caregiving responsibilities,” said Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and chief executive officer.