For decades, analysts have anticipated that demographic shifts such as lower rates of marriage and childbearing among the large baby boom cohort would affect the future supply of spouses and children, traditionally the main source of informal caregiving. This report examines what is known about the recent prevalence of care needs among older Americans and the informal supports available to meet them, compensatory strategies used when sufficient traditional supports are not available, and outcomes related to lack of care. The report also describes existing projections or forecasts of future need for care and the gap between needs and informal care resources and concludes with a synthesis of findings from the literature on key demographic and societal trends that may affect future caregiving demand and supply.
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