Employed Women and Their Aging Family Convoys

Summary

Traditional models of geriatric assessment have not considered the cultural and demographic changes that have affected women's ability to provide parent care in the 21st century. The United States has the world's highest fulltime employment rate and the longest workweek. These factors have an important impact on women's ability to provide care for aging parents. A life course assessment and intervention model currently employed at the US Army and Air War Colleges that helps female and male officers prepare proactively for parent care is described. The usefulness of the model is supported by data from a longitudinal survey of the needs of military families. The life course model provides a unique framework to guide social workers who help women within and outside the armed forces to manage 21st century commitments to family and work.

Key Words:

• Parent care
• life course
• women and work
• caregiving
• midlife
• caregiving assessment and intervention
• caregiving resources