MARITAL-STATUS OF CAREGIVING DAUGHTERS AND CO-RESIDENCE WITH DEPENDENT PARENTS

The role of caregiving daughters' marital status is examined as it relates to their sharing households with disabled elderly parents. Married daughters fared best in well-being, income, and social support. Never-married women were the most likely to have never moved out of the parental home. Separated/divorced caregivers, more than the married and widowed, had moved into the parent's home rather than the reverse and widowed daughters had lived in re-formed joint households longest. The main reason for re-forming shared households was disability of the parent. Among other reasons were death or withdrawal of previous caregiver and financial problems, with separated/divorced daughters the most likely to mention finances.