Gender Equity related work

Empowering women as informal caregivers

Women are the non-professional caregivers closest to healthcare professionals and, more often than not, are the ones who go to pharmacies and assume responsibilities for health in the household. In general, women tend to seek treatment and go to doctors’ or pharmacy’s offices more frequently than men do. In the United States, about 75% of family caregivers are women, and approximately 25% are spouses.1 With the population ageing, women are increasingly volunteering to care for their elderly family members. FIP’s  report “Pharmacists supporting women and responsible use of medicines” showcases how pharmacists should work to empower women in their role as an informal caregiver, to communicate to women the need to be informed about medicines and to support their health literacy, in order for them to be able to positively influence others. By intervening with compassion and providing information, resources, and support, pharmacists may positively affect care recipients and their caregivers.