Half of Americans do not consider themselves a “guardian”, but new research revealed that some have already taken on the role.
This is according to a study of 2,000 Americans, including 1,000 who care (or cared for) an elderly person.
For those who did not care “official” for an elderly man, 53% did not consider themselves guardians – despite taking a lot of custody responsibilities.
These respondents still do work for an elderly person in their lives (21%) and provide emotional and mental support (18%) for this elderly person.
Others also make a point to visit with them regularly (16%), clean their home (16%) and provide transport (14%).
Performed by Talker Research on behalf of the comfort holders for the National Day of Joy, the survey revealed that all of these activities are adapted to the definition of “Custodian” response.
When asked what the guardian means, 58% of respondents said, simple, being available at any time for the person they care for.
Less important as a definition was – giving care as an occlusion (47%), living at home with the elderly (33%) or was actually paid (25%) for work.
And with this width for custody, 74% of the answers believe that everyone will be done, at one point, a guardian for an elder who is unable to meet their needs.
“Millions of Americans are guardians all over the name, besides the name, quietly supporting the loved ones of aging without knowing the essential role they are already playing,” said Saudia Gajadhar, the leading Happiness Officer at Keepers Comfort. “Our research shows that many people do not identify it as guardians, even though they provide significant support, most expect to enter that role in the future. Get it.”
As the guardian comes with challenges, it is also something for people to look forward to: three -quarters (74%) of those who have been guardian said it is one of the most useful chapters of their lives.
Ninety -one percent of the guardians said it was an opportunity to connect with the elderly with whom they were spending time, with a split: “It is like having another relative. You take care of this person for so long and they adopt you.”
Through custody, the answers learned, “There is a friend to anyone, all you need is the time to know them.” And, “that it is possible to be resilient even when the cards are accumulated against you.”
Custodians also learn some startling facts about the people they cared for.
Answers said that the person they care about had experienced more calamity than they thought (33%) and is strange than the previous thought (33%).
The guardians also learned about the passions and values the person they cared for (30%), and understood the person they cared for living a wild, adventurous life than Cargiver ever knew (26%).
They shared discoveries that the elderly with whom they took care of a celebrity, one spoke seven languages and another was a champion dancer.
One response learned the person they cared was friends with Martin Luther King, while another said the person they cared was in World War II as a combat pilot and collapsed – and a third shared “they had a double secret life.”
“Some think that the guardian may be a burden, but most guardians call it a blessing and an opportunity to discover the silver lines of life, such as connecting with their boyfriend, learning family stories, finding goals and feeling joy,” said Sherri Sherry, Gerontologist, author and spokesperson for comfort. “Our survey shows that when people care for old boyfriends, they are giving support, but they are also returning something.
Survey Methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 US general populations and 1,000 responses who are guardians of an elderly/have been guardian for an elderly in the past (either paid or unpaid and failing to include general parenting responsibilities). The survey was ordered by comfort holders and was administered and carried out online by Talker Research between April 25 – May 1, 2025.
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