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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Oct 27.
Published in final edited form as: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2008 Jul;63(4):S229–S238. doi: 10.1093/geronb/63.4.s229

Table 2. Characteristics of Spouses and Care Network by Care Recipient Life Stage.

Late Middle-Aged Young-Old Older-Old
(52 to 64) (65 to 74) (75 and older)
% % %
N 418 355 445
Caregiving Status
 Primary caregiver to spouse 87.40 84.04 81.18
 Caregiver, but not primary 3.31 4.37 4.64
 Does not help 9.28 11.59 14.18
Male 51.36 47.58 41.32
ADL difficulties, m (se) .34 (.04) .56 (.08) .67 (.08)
IADL difficulties, m (se) .21 (.03) .40 (.06) .61 (.10)
Receives help for own limitations 8.36 18.08 23.47
Cares for children or parents 37.28 10.64 1.75
Work status
 Does not work 43.83 80.18 89.76
 Less than 20 hours per week 4.16 6.03 6.06
 20 to 39 hours per week 6.84 5.50 1.94
 40 or more hours per week 45.18 8.29 2.24
More than one helper in network 23.89 25.21 25.37
Among spousal primary caregiver
 Hours of help in past month 97.47 149.70 182.50