Caregivers for older adults: Prevalence, characteristics, and health care utilization and expenditures

The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of caregiver prevalence and characteristics and to estimate the impact of caregiving on health care utilization and expenditures among AARP® Medicare Supplement insureds to inform caregiver intervention strategies. A subgroup with live-in partners...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geriatric nursing (New York) 2017-01, Vol.38 (1), p.9-16
Main Authors: Musich, Shirley, Wang, Shaohung S., Kraemer, Sandra, Hawkins, Kevin, Wicker, Ellen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Caregiver
Caregivers
Caregivers - psychology
Carers
Characteristics
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Health care expenditures
Health care utilization
Health costs
Health Expenditures - statistics & numerical data
Health services utilization
Health Status
Helpseeking
Hospitalization
Humans
Loneliness
Loneliness - psychology
Male
Medicare
Mental Health
Nursing
Older adults
Older people
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data
Psychological wellbeing
Quality of care
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of caregiver prevalence and characteristics and to estimate the impact of caregiving on health care utilization and expenditures among AARP® Medicare Supplement insureds to inform caregiver intervention strategies. A subgroup with live-in partners was used to investigate the additional effect of live-in health status on caregiver health. Multivariate regression models were utilized to determine caregivers' characteristics and associated impacts on their health care utilization and expenditures. Among respondents (n = 18,928), 14.9% self-identified as caregivers. The strongest characteristics included being younger, healthier, but reporting depression or loneliness. Caregivers of sicker live-ins were female, older and indicated moderate loneliness; caregivers of healthier live-ins were younger, healthier, but reported severe loneliness. Caregivers had significantly lower inpatient admissions and medical and prescription drug expenditures. These results indicated an adverse impact on psychological health associated with caregiving but no evidence of a negative impact on physical health.
ISSN:0197-4572
1528-3984
DOI:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2016.06.017