Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

This paper examines what is known about the size and characteristics of the parental and spousal caregiving population, including differences between women and men; the extent to which parental or spousal caregiving affects retirement security; and policy options that could improve caregivers’ retirement security. To answer the first two questions, we analyze nationally representative survey data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) eldercare module, the 2015 Caregiving in the U.S. study, and the Health and Retirement Survey. To identify and understand the benefits and costs of particular policy options and initiatives that could improve caregivers’ retirement security, we reviewed current federal laws and regulations, conducted an extensive literature review and interviewed a range of experts and stakeholders who are knowledgeable about caregiving or retirement security or both, who are engaged in research or advocacy around caregiving, or who represented groups that might be affected by the identified policy approaches. Our work shines a light on the most vulnerable caregiving populations and puts forth a policy framework that could be used to mitigate these vulnerabilities.