Heterogeneity in Family Norms for Elderly Caregiving and Cost-Bearing: A Global Evidence

Harchand Ram, Jawaharlal Nehru University

With rapid aging, elderly caregiving, and related cost-bearing are the significant implications that the countries are encountering today. The role of the family in elderly caregiving and its cost-bearing is also transforming swiftly, where traditionally, the family is considered a fundamental institution for elderly support. Thus, it is imperative to understand the changing family norms and their heterogeneity across the countries. In order to assess the heterogeneities in elderly caregiving and cost-bearing norms across the globe, the study uses data from the “International Social Survey Programme (ISSP)” 2012 module “Family and Changing Gender Roles.” Globally, 54% of individuals’ report providing domestic help to the elderly, while 31% depend on Government agencies and 14% on others. Similarly, for cost-bearing, 41% of the individuals depend on themselves or their families, while the government supports 51%. Further, the findings suggest heterogeneity in family norms towards elderly caregiving, cost-bearing across the countries, and socio-demographic characteristics

Keywords: Population Ageing, Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations, Families, Unions and Households

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