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| Men Increasingly Being Called on to be Caregivers |
In the last 15 years, the number of men caring for loved ones with AlzheimerÛªs or dementia has more than doubled, from 19 to 40 percent, according to the AlzheimerÛªs Association.åÊ
The trend mirrors the higher number of women with the disease ÛÓ 3.4 million compared to 1.8 million men.åÊ
Experts attribute the increase in male caregivers to several societal changes, including evolving gender expectations as well as new life expectancy rates.
ÛÏMen sometimes can be better positioned than women to serve as caregivers, said Julie Bach to the Columbus, Indiana newspaper The Republic. An assistant professor of social work at Dominican University she noted that women often attempt to tackle care giving alone, feeling guilty about the burden they place on others. Men, however, are more inclined to seek out help in the difficult process.
“Women just want to vent, and guys just want to fix things.Û
The size of the average family has become smaller, so leaving the caregiving to women is not always an option.åÊ
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