When you think of an adult child caring for an elderly parent, what comes to mind? For most of us, the first thing we envision is probably a woman in her fifties. What may not come to mind is elders caring for elders: men and women in their 70s and up caring for parents in their 90s or older.
An analysis from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College was the first to document how often this happens. Researchers found that 10 percent of adults ages 60 to 69 whose parents are alive serve as caregivers, as do 12 percent of adults age 70 and older.