Challenges and Opportunities to Working Longer in the Context of Informal Caregiving

Abstract

There is a great need for individuals to work longer and provide care to family members given extended longevity, shortfalls of retirement income, policies that incentivize extended employment, and the absence of a robust and comprehensive system for long-term services and supports (LTSS). While research in this area is complex, there is some evidence to suggest informal caregivers are at greater risk of living in poverty in later life, are more likely to be forced into retirement, and retire at earlier ages. Un-retirement, defined as returning to paid-work after formal retirement, is an emerging phenomenon that is likely to continue. Yet, research has overlooked how family obligations relate to going back to work after retirement. This research brief aimed to explore the heterogeneity of caregiving responsibilities in retirement, and determine the causal relationships between informal caregiving and un-retirement.