Table 1 Care-giving context for dependent older people selected for participation in INDEP

Prevalence of dependence

135/1381 (9.7%)

26/550 (4.7%)

114/1003 (11.4%)

82/1000 (8.2%)

183/1160 (15.8%)

54/1002 (5.4%)

233/872 ()

Caregiving context for dependent older people

N = 135

N = 26

N = 114

N = 82

N = 183

N = 54

N = 228

Household composition

Living alone

0.0%

7.7%

8.8%

4.9%

2.7%

0.0%

Living with spouse only

5.2%

3.8%

14.9%

9.8%

26.8%

11.1%

Co-resident adult children

69.6%

76.9%

69.3%

78.0%

50.3%

87.0%

Co-resident children under 16

29.6%

38.5%

34.2%

51.2%

13.7%

63.0%

Mean household size (SD)

4.7 (2.1)

5.3 (3.0)

4.1 (2.4)

4.3 (2.3)

3.0 (1.4)

4.9 (1.6)

Principal carer characteristics

Spouse

18.5%

26.9%

16.7%

15.9%

38.8%

38.9%

13.7%

Child or child-in-law

40.0%

50.0%

73.7%

65.8%

43.2%

59.3%

68.0%

Non-relative

25.2%

3.8%

3.6%

0.0%

16.4%

1.9%

1.4%

Female carer

85.9%

88.5%

83.3%

81.7%

67.2%

50.0%

63.2%

Care arrangements

Carer has cut back on work to care

16.3%

23.1%

25.4%

36.6%

3.8%

48.1%

39.2%

Additional informal carer or carers

45.9%

57.7%

55.3%

58.5%

7.1%

22.2%

66.5%

Paid carer

33.3%

7.7%

3.5%

1.2%

45.4%

1.9%

2.1%