PARENT CAREGIVERS - A COMPARISON OF EMPLOYED AND NOT EMPLOYED DAUGHTERS

A major task for social workers is sorting out the kinds of assistance needed by families who care for an elderly parent. In particular, inf ormation is needed about the differential effects of employment on dau ghters who care for their elderly parent. This study describes parenta l caregiving among three groups: daughters who were employed, daughter s who were never employed while caregivers, and daughters who ended th eir employment to continue caregiving. The effects of caregiving on th ese three groups, as well as the daughters' involvement with care task s and use of formal and informal assistance, are examined.