Older rural natural helpers: gender and site differences in the helping process

Gender Differences of Older Caregivers of Adults with Mental Retardation

Differences between male and female caregivers of mentally retarded adults have not previously been examined. This study focuses on differences between a sample of 54 male and 334 female caregivers of adult mentally retarded dependent persons. We examine caregiver characteristics, characteristics of the mentally retarded persons, caregivers'perceived caregiving ability and service planning and satisfaction. The findings suggest that mothers ranked their child's associated disabilities as more severe. Fathers reported higher satisfaction with services and were more concerned about their physical ability to care for their child in the future.