Who provides care? A prospective study of caregiving among adult siblings.

PURPOSE: We use data from a longitudinal, within-family study to identify factors that predict which adult siblings assumed caregiving responsibilities to older mothers over a 7-year period.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Data for the study were collected from 139 older mothers at 2 points 7 years apart regarding their expectations and experiences of care from 537 adult children.

RESULTS: Children whom mothers identified at T1 as their expected future caregivers were much more likely to provide care when a serious illness occurred. Caregiving offspring were also more likely at T1 to have shared their mothers' values, lived in proximity, and to be daughters.

IMPLICATIONS: The findings indicate the degree to which a mother's expectations for care predict actual caregiving by that child. Practitioners working with older adults should explore parents' expectations for future care that involves their adult children.