This MetLife Mature Market Institute study of the Caregiving  Cost to Working Caregivers published in June 2011 analyzed data from the National Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to determine the extent to which older adult children provide care to their parents, the roles gender and work play in that caregiving, and the potential cost to the caregiver in lost wages and future retirement income as a result of their support. A snapshot of the key findings as well as a full downloadable report is available.

The study describes what working caregivers look like, what sort of care they provide, their total loss in both lifetime wages and social security benefits and the implications this has on employers and workers as the baby boomers age and attempt to prepare for retirement while taking care of their own ailing parents.