Older adult women caregivers have lower death rates than non-caregivers, study finds: ‘A sense of purpose’
Fox News
Caregiving was associated with a lower risk of death in older women in the U.S., per a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Psychologists offer input.
Along with a team of researchers from several universities across the country, LaMonte analyzed nearly 159,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 over a 20-year span, all of whom were enrolled in the long-term national health study known as the Women’s Health Initiative. "There are risks and benefits of caregiving — and whether it increases or decreases mortality likely depends on many things." Amy McGorry is a contributing health writer for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.
The women who reported themselves as caregivers had a 9% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to the non-caregivers, according to the study findings.