In Latin America and the Caribbean, it is estimated that between 2020 and 2050, the number of older people will increase from 8 million to 23 million, reaching one in three people over 65 by 2085. This change will lead to an increase in the dependency ratio from 14% to 16% accompanied by a demand that will require close to 14 million paid caregivers, mainly in long-term care services.

The aging of the population is one of the most pressing challenges. As the dependent elderly population grows, the demand for care exceeds the traditional models. These models are based largely on the unpaid work of women in the family environment. This situation raises the urgent need to reorganize care in a more equitable and sustainable way.

Female Caregiving Overload

Women continue to assume the majority of caregiving responsibilities, both paid and unpaid. In the region, they spend between 6.3 and 29.5 hours more than men on unpaid care work, which represents between 16% and 28% of the countries' gross domestic product (GDP), with 74% of this value contributed by women. Even in advanced stages of their lives, women continue to assume caregiving roles. In Brazil, women between the ages of 60 and 69 dedicate an average of 24 hours per week to these tasks. On the other hand, those over 80 reach 17 hours.

In the area of paid care, the disparity is equally evident. Of the 9 million paid caregivers in the region, 95% are women. Sectors associated with care, such as education, health and domestic service also reflect this trend. Only 6% of men are employed in these areas, compared to 30% of women. Social norms that assign women the primary responsibility for caregiving perpetuate these inequalities.

More than 75% of dependent elderly people in the region are cared for by family members, and 6 out of 8 of these unpaid caregivers are women. A study in Chile reveals that, when a parent becomes ill with cancer, daughters experience a greater reduction in their employment rate and income compared to sons. While a greater proportion of women take on the role of direct caregivers for their sick parents, men tend to play a greater role as financial providers.

Physical, Emotional and Economic Impacts

The overload of unpaid care negatively affects the physical and emotional health of female caregivers. Women caregivers report higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression than their male counterparts. Paid female caregivers, on the other hand, receive lower salaries, have less training and face more precarious working conditions. In some cases, they even suffer physical or verbal violence.

Time poverty is a significant consequence for women caregivers. In countries such as Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico, women who provide long-term care are less likely to participate in paid employment. When they do, they work fewer hours. For example, in Mexico, women's working hours are reduced by 7.3% due to parental care, while men do not experience a similar impact.

Within low-income households, the lack of public services forces them to rely on women's unpaid work. This exacerbates inequalities, while higher-income households have more options, such as contracting services in the market.

Policies to Redistribute Care

Policies to redistribute care between genders have followed two main approaches:

1. The first focuses on increasing men's participation in home care tasks through caregiving leave, flexible work policies and programs aimed at modifying social norms. However, these initiatives tend to prioritize child care, leaving the needs of the elderly in the background. According to the ILO, only four countries in the region -Bahamas, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Peru- offer leave for the care of dependents, including the elderly.

1. The second approach, less developed in the region, seeks to promote the labor participation of men in sectors linked to care, such as health. Although affirmative actions and recruitment campaigns have begun to be implemented in other contexts, in Latin America these strategies are still incipient and focus mainly on child care. Improving working conditions in the care sector is crucial to attract more men. Guaranteeing labor rights, combating precariousness and promoting the formalization of the sector not only improves working conditions, but also raises the quality of services.

A significant advance in the region has been the implementation of training and labor competency certification programs for those working in the care sector. This professionalization responds to a growing demand and has generated new formal employment opportunities.

More Equitable and Sustainable Systems of Care

To address the growing demand for long-term care, it is essential to design policies that promote both the redistribution of care work between men and women and the improvement of working conditions in the sector. Formalizing, professionalizing and making care work more visible are essential steps to reduce the burden on women and ensure higher quality services.

The transformation of care systems cannot take place without a strong commitment from governments, the private sector and civil society. Only through a comprehensive approach will it be possible to build fairer and more sustainable care systems that ensure the well-being of those who receive and provide care.

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