Carer Characteristics and Health, Wellbeing and Employment Outcomes of Older Australian Baby Boomers

Abstract

Supporting caregivers and enabling continued workforce participation are central strategies in Australia's response to an ageing population, however these strategies have potential disadvantages for carers, particularly women, including reduced workforce participation and retirement income, and poorer health status. This paper explores the nexus between paid work and caregiving for Australia's baby boomer cohort as this group faces unprecedented pressures to manage paid work alongside caring longer and more intensively for family members, including grandchildren. A sample of 1261 men and women aged 60 to 64 completed the 2011-12 Life Histories and Health survey, a sub-study of the New South Wales 45 and Up Study. The survey collected data on sociodemographic, psychosocial, life history and health-related variables including caregiving and employment status. Around a third (32.5%) of the sample (52.2% female) were involved in some type of caregiving at the time. Compared to non-carers, carers reported lower workforce participation (45.8% versus 54.7% for non-carers) as well as poorer health, more mobility difficulties, lower quality of life and lower self-rated SES. Carers who also cared for grandchildren were more likely to be in part-time or no paid work compared to other carers. Working carers tended to be more highly educated, have fewer mobility difficulties, better self-rated health and higher SES than non-working carers. Male carers were more likely than female carers to be in full-time or no paid work. Results indicate that reduced workforce participation and health status of caregivers varies by gender and type of caregiving. Policy reforms are recommended to mitigate these adverse consequences on those providing care, their families, employers and the community.

Caring hours and possible need for employment support among primary carers for adults with mental illness: Results from an Australian household survey

“…Much research on caring intensity has used binary thresholds to explore its impact on employment (Carmichael & Charles, ; Carr et al, ; King et al, ; O'Loughlin et al, ). Consistent with these studies, when applying different cut‐points we found that caring for as few as 10 or more hours per week, compared to less than 10 hr, was significantly associated with not being employed for both mental health and other condition carers.…”

“…Intensive caring has been linked to lower employment rates among carers for people with any condition, where intensity is measured by the hours of support provided or related factors such as the care recipient's level of impairment or whether they receive paid assistance (Carmichael, Charles, & Hulme, ; Lilly et al, ; Pickard, Brimblecombe, King, & Knapp, ). In Australia, O’Loughlin, Loh, and Kendig () found that older adults caring for 10 or more hours per week had only half the full‐time employment rate of those caring for fewer than 10 hr. Similarly, Leigh () identified a significant reduction in employment rates among carers providing more than 10, or more than 35 weekly hours of support.…”

“…Similarly, Leigh () identified a significant reduction in employment rates among carers providing more than 10, or more than 35 weekly hours of support. Previous studies suggest a non‐linear relationship between caring hours and employment, with a threshold of between 10–20 hr/week above which there is a significant drop‐off in employment (Carmichael & Charles, ; Carmichael et al, ; Carr et al, ; King & Pickard, ; Leigh, ; O'Loughlin et al, ; Pickard et al, ; Ruhm, ). There is a lack of consensus on the point beyond which caring hours are detrimental to employment (Nguyen & Connelly, ).…”

The impact of carer status on participation in healthy activity and self‐reported health among Australian women over 50 years

“…Increased caregiving hours and having a care recipient live with a carer have been found to negatively influence carers’ labour force participation (ABS, ). In a recent study of 1,261 Australian men and women aged 60–64 years, O'Loughlin, Loh and Kendig () found women carers were more likely to be working and more likely to be employed part‐time than non‐carers. In the current study, carers were more likely to be employed part‐time or not working at all, rather than to be employed full‐time.…”

Australia

“…The association between education and work participation at 65 years or over was stronger among women than men. Education strengthened women's attachment to the labour market, allowing them to improve financial security by working for longer and higher educational qualifications had a 'health protective' effect (O'Loughlin et al 2017a). However, proactive gendered education policies were not evident.…”