In recent years, the number of men caring for their family members has increased substantially. These caregivers range from neighbors to fathers and sons. This new face of caregiving is reshaping our definition of what it means to be a caregiver in the 21st century.

49% of male caregivers are providing care for aging parents or a spouse, while 13% provide care to an in-law. Most notably, male CGs are taking on the same responsibilities as their female counterparts. Tasks include activities of daily living (ADL) such as eating, bathing, dressing, help with finances, emotional support. 

In addition to traditional tasks, males are increasingly taking on more nursing and medical responsibilities. Based on a 2019 AARP Study (Home Alone Revisited: Family Caregivers Providing Complex Care), "About half of the caregivers who perform medical/nursing tasks are worried about making a mistake. It is no surprise that approximately 49% of the caregivers would like hands-on training to learn how to perform medical and nursing tasks while a qualified medical professional watched and offered guidance initially. 

Part of the motivation for taking on more complex tasks is to allow family members to stay home rather than being put into nursing homes. 

Take a look at this awesome video for male caregivers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y7J7UiIgKQ

Resources:

https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2017/breaking-stereotypes-spotlight-on-male-family-caregivers.html

https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2019/04/home-alone-revisited-family-caregivers-providing-complex-care.pdf

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