A new Gallup poll aims to describe the life of an average caregiver and shines light on the vast amount of time family caregivers spend each month caring for a loved one.

The Gallup poll is part of a three part series, which aims to describe what it means to be caregiver. Researchers surveyed 2,805 adults, aged 18 and older, who self-identified as caregivers and were working at least 15 hours per week. Most respondents reported caring for someone 75 or older, and 72 percent of these caregivers were providing care for a parent. A majority of these caregivers did not live with the person to whom they provided care, but 66% of individuals not living with the person they cared for lived within 10 miles.

The poll finds that caregiving is generally a long-term commitment and is often a major time commitment, with more than 19 days per month devoted to providing care. 13 or these days were spent with tasks such as shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, and taking medicine, while 6 of these days were spent assisting with personal tasks such as toilet visits, eating, dressing, grooming, and bathing. Caregivers also spent 13 hours per month coordinating physician visits, managing financial matters, and researching care services for their loved one and an average of 5 hours per day in which they provide care devoted to companionship.

Read the full results and Gallup’s methodology.

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