Data Profiles

Family Caregivers of Older Persons

People are living long today than ever before. Long life expectancy is often accompanied by multiple chronic health conditions, however. Informal caregivers play a significant role in helping elderly persons, particularly those with chronic health conditions, maintain their independence. Although aspects of caregiver are rewarding, providing care to a loved one can be demanding. These demands affect families and employers. Given the increases in life expectancy and the decline in fertility rates, the issues surrounding caregiving are not likely to disappear in the future. The purpose of the Data Profiles on Family Caregivers of Older Persons is to use data-driven findings to raise awareness among policy makers and the media of the daily challenges encountered by informal caregivers. The series of Data Profiles, Family Caregivers of Older Persons is supported by a grant from the AARP Andrus Foundation and a grant from the Mathers LifeWays.

All Data Profiles are available in printer-friendly PDF version ( Adobe Acrobat Reader is necessary to view these files) or HTML. 

  • A Decade of Informal Caregiving (HTML or PDF ), February 2005
  • Adult Chidren (HTML or PDF ), May 2005
  • How Do Family Caregivers Fare? (HTML or PDF ), June 2005
  • Caregiving and Paid Work: Are there trade-offs: (HTML or PDF ), August 2005 (NEW!)

Challenges for the 21st Century: Chronic and Disabling Conditions

Chronic conditions are the major cause of illness, disability, and death in the United States. Almost 100 million Americans have chronic conditions, and millions will develop them as America ages. The Center highlights major chronic and disabling conditions that affect Americans through multiple series of Data Profiles and examines a new condition in each profile.  Staff members completed the first series of 12 Data Profiles in October 2000 and are currently working on a second series of Data Profiles and Issue Briefs.  The 2002-2003 Data Profile series will cover conditions such as pediatric obesity, visual impairments, and cancer, while the Issue Briefs will kick-off by examining substance abuse.  The complete first series is available and the second series will be updated as new Data Profiles are released.

Series I (1999-2000)

Please note that the first series of 12 Data Profiles (November 1999-October 2000) were done by Center on an Aging Society staff and others when Center personnel were at the National Academy on an Aging Society. Center staff left the National Academy on an Aging Society in December 2000 to form the Center on an Aging Society.

Series II (2002-2003)

  • Screening for Chronic Conditions (HTML or PDF ), January 2002
  • Childhood Obesity: A Lifelong Threat to Health (HTML or PDF ), March 2002
  • Visual Impairments (HTML or PDF ), May 2002
  • Cancer (HTML or PDF ), July 2002
  • Prescription Drugs (HTML or PDF ), September 2002
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (HTML or PDF ), November 2002
  • Rural and Urban Health (HTML or PDF ), January 2003
  • Chronic Back Pain (HTML or PDF ), March 2003
  • Older Hispanic Americans (HTML or PDF ), May 2003
  • Obesity Among Older Americans (HTML or PDF ), July 2003
  • The Decade Preceding Medicare Coverage (HTML or PDF ), September 2003
  • Multiple Chronic Conditions (HTML or PDF ), Novermber 2003 (NEW!)

Issue Briefs (2002-2003)

  • Substance Abuse (HTML or PDF ), August 2002
  • HIV/AIDS (HTML or PDF ), June 2003
  • Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (HTML or PDF ), October 2003
  • Disease Management Programs (HTML or PDF ), January 2004
  • Cultural Competence in Health Care (HTML or PDF ), February 2004
  • Oral Health Care (HTML or PDF ), April 2004
  • Workers Affected by Chronic Conditions (HTML or PDF ), June 2004 (NEW!)

Young Retirees and Older Workers

Understanding the characteristics of people who leave the labor force at relatively younger ages as well as those who work into their later years may help make predictions about the retirement of baby boomers. The Center highlights characteristics of young retirees and older workers in a series of Data Profiles. The six profiles may be downloaded from our website in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader to be viewed.  Please note that four of these Data Profiles were done by Center staff when the Center personnel were at the National Academy on an Aging Society. Center staff left the National Academy on an Aging Society in December 2000 to form the Center on an Aging Society and completed the last two Data Profiles on Young Retirees and Older Workers after leaving the National Academy on an Aging Society.