Informal caregiving burden: an overlooked aspect of the lives and health of women transitioning from welfare to employment?

Informal caregiving occurs among communities in all socioeconomic strata and is largely provided by women. Although an extensive amount of research focusing on caregiver burden has been conducted within nursing, little is known about informal caregiving among low-income women, particularly within the context of welfare reform. This study examined the extent of informal caregiver burden in low-income women transitioning off welfare and the relationship between informal caregiving and maintaining employment. A random sample of 32 adults who had recently received welfare was obtained (n = 31 women), although there was significant difficulty locating potential subjects. Sixty-three percent of participants were providing nonparental forms of informal caregiving. Caregiver burden scores among this group were highest in the time-dependence dimension of caregiving. Over 30% of participants reported having to leave a job within the past year because of their caregiving responsibilities. These findings suggest that the informal caregiving responsibilities of low-income women may be an overlooked aspect of welfare reform policy. Given the emphasis on case management and policy advocacy in their roles, public health nurses are uniquely positioned to partner with local welfare-to-work organizations, educate program staff, and further develop existing assessment processes to better address caregiving responsibilities within low-income families.