Who among the following is most likely to serve as a caregiver for elderly parents?

• A. the wife of married sons
• B. first born sons
• C. daughters
• D. the youngest child in the family

Answer: (C)

Gender roles and family expectations shape who becomes the primary caregiver for aging parents. Daughters are typically socialized toward caregiving and nurturing, and they often maintain closer emotional ties and live nearer to aging parents. These factors make daughters more likely to take on daily tasks, coordinate medical needs, and provide ongoing support, so they commonly become the main caregivers over time. While a wife of a married son can contribute, the pattern most often observed is daughters taking on the central caregiving role due to longstanding cultural expectations and family routines. Birth order or being the firstborn or youngest child doesn’t reliably predict who will care for aging parents.