Female caregivers' plans for late life

Providing assistance to aging parents is a common midlife task for adult children, and daughters in particular. Consequently, caregiving is an experience that coincides and influences a woman in midlife planning for her own aging. Using qualitative inquiry, this article describes the plans that caregivers have for their aging. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 15 female caregivers between the ages of 50 and 65 who were caring for an ill and disabled parent or parent-in-law. Most participants had made plans in the areas of finances, living arrangements, health, and social network, but others had made minimal plans, acknowledging barriers and limitations of planning for later life. A discussion of social work practice implications is included.