In this study, Black and White family caregivers are compared in terms of the division of labor among primary caregivers and secondary helpers. Three patterns of the division of labor were distinguished: (1) the primary caregiver as exclusive provider of care, (2) supplemental care (at least some care tasks are shared among at least two providers), and (3) specialization (different tasks are carried out by different providers). Employing both matching (by care recipients' diagnosis and number of functional impairments) and statistical controls of relevant confounders (income, employment, gender, type of residency, etc.), African American caregivers were found to be significantly less likely to provide all care alone without the help of secondary helpers.
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