The Christian Science Montior reports on the growing number of men assuming caregiver roles, and differences between men and women in these roles.
Mailyn Gardner writes (excerpt):
Say the word “caregiver” and most people think of a woman ministering to a spouse or relative. But men now account for nearly one-third of primary caregivers to older adults, studies show.
As these men — husbands, sons, and even grandsons like Alger — roll up their sleeves, they are quietly pioneering new roles and defying stereotypes. They are also discovering that all caregivers need more support at home and work.
A recent MetLife survey finds that women remain more involved in personal-care tasks such as bathing and dressing. Men are more likely to handle grocery shopping, transportation, and finances. The study, by the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Center for Productive Aging at Towson University, also reports that more men than women provide long-distance care.
Edward Thompson, a gerontologist and coeditor of the book “Men as Caregivers,” explains that men approach caregiving differently from the way women do. “They come into it late, come with a lot less prior experience, and come with a lot different motivation,” he says. Many men adopt a managerial style.
“Men are fully engaged, but they approach it as a task, rather than an all-consuming job,” Mr. Thompson says.
Men are also more likely to take a different approach in caring for parents, he adds. “Sons come in with the desire to keep their parents as independent as possible, while their sisters seek to provide whatever services they think their parents need. Sometimes sisters do things too early from their brothers’ point of view.”