title: Labor and cost in AIDS family caregiving.
abstract: When the costs of care for persons with AIDS are calculated, the assumption is made that the care provided by the family or other social support network members is a social and not also an economic contribution. This article challenges the flawed assumption of "free" care, focuses on the labor and economic dimensions of family home care, and presents a calculation of the dollar value of this care for persons with AIDS (PWAs). The sample consisted of 53 persons, each of whom identified themselves as the primary caregiver for a PWA. Study findings revealed caregiver estimates of 5 hours a week of housework performed specifically for the PWA. Caregivers spent an average of 8.5 hours a day performing personal care tasks for the PWA. The three most common activities were providing companionship, running errands, and performing food/meal-related activities. Gender comparisons revealed that women performed more hours of housework than men but that both provided similar types of personal care for similar numbers of hours. Using a market valuation method, the value of a day's caregiving work was estimated to be $43.78. The annual value of unpaid care, including housework, for one PWA was calculated to be $25,857.88. These data document a significant economic contribution by families and friends caring for PWAs. This subsidy must be included as part of the policy and planning work essential to addressing the AIDS epidemic.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Care Systems, Seattle.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000191:economics* / Q000451:nursing; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014481:United States; D014937:Work / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data